Jason,
I haven't tested this theory, but it just could be that the voltage stabilizer
is designed to run two gauges and unhooking one of them
reduces the resistance against the stabilizer. This could cause a much higher
current load on the circuit causing it to overheat and
cause the resulting smoke.
If this is the case, your options are:
1. Check the resistance of the gauge and install a resistor of the same value
between the lead you removed and the wire coming from the
sending unit.
2. Replace both gauges with those not requiring the voltage stabilizer. This
approach may be the best, because you would have matching
gauges.
Joe
"Jason K. Cullum" wrote:
>
> Don't think this is it. It doesn't smoke until I remove the hot wire from
> the gauge. It doesn't appear to have melted the insulation off.
>
> Jason
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-spitfires@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-spitfires@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Terry L. Thompson
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 12:04 PM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Temp Gauge installation question
>
> Sounds like you're grounding the power lead, and you've probably melted the
> insulation off of one of your wires (the smoke).
>
> I had a SUNPRO gauge that did that in my '50 Ford Truck...But I seem to
> remember it was for the fuel gauge. The gauge should have two nuts on each
> post. But I didn't have enough nuts, so I loosened the one that held the
> meter assembly within the gauge casing, so the fork connector was affixed.
> Well, the assembly IS NOT supposed to touch the casing, and if you've had
> movement on the mechanism (Such as by loosening the nuts that hold the
> assembly in place) and it's touching the casing, then your hot wire lead
> will, for all intensive purposes, be going directly to ground. And the thin
> wire can't handle the load, heats up and melts the insulation.
>
> But this is only one hypothesis.
>
> Terry L. Thompson
> '76 Spit 1500
> Maryland
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jason K. Cullum <jcullum@chorus.net>
> To: Spitfire <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 12:30 AM
> Subject: Temp Gauge installation question
>
> >
> > I purchased a new Manual temp gauge for my spit. I am replacing the
> original
> > electric one. When I unhook the wires to it and turn on my ignition I get
> > smoke from under the dash!!!!!! Here are the wires hooked up, Power to
> light
> > from Dash light switch, Lead from sensor in engine compartment, Grounds to
> > the frame of the gauge, and 2 wires spliced together connected to the last
> > post on the gauge, when the two wires are removed is when I get the smoke.
> > How can I remove the gauge with burning up my car? What circuit do I need
> to
> > close and how do I do it?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jason
> >
> > PS this is a 63 (IE Reverse Polarity....Positive Ground and Negative is
> hot)
> >
> >
> >
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