Removing Oil and Temperature dial

[R8nan]

I am fitting a new dash and I have changed all the dials except the oil and temp gauge I cant disconnect the temp lead. Can anyone please help

[budaholic]

The temp guage operates with a capillary tube which, AFAIK isn't removable from the rear of the guage.
You have to strip out the complete unit with the wire. It's the one running through your engine bay with a coiled wire round it. Usually cable tied to the drivers side water rail, then down to the front left, where the sender is.

Hope this helps!

Bud

[speed8]

Yep, complete unit, need to do the above. If you plan on re-using it then be careful, the capillary tube is quite fragile.

[R8nan]

Thanks for the advice have only tried for about 3 hours to remove it from the back of the dial. Looks like I will be ordering a new one tomorrow.

[budaholic]

R8nan said:

Thanks for the advice have only tried for about 3 hours to remove it from the back of the dial. Looks like I will be ordering a new one tomorrow.

Me too now.... Mine stopped working today on the way home from the Mid-Essex meet.

[oli_quick]

I had exactly the same issue when I tried to fit my new dash...99% there and had to put it all back together...joyous afternoon of failure!

Still hesitant to do it now as I imagine the re-threading of the wire through the engine bay and bulk head will be an equally satisfying afternoon.

Let me know how you get on...

[R8nan]

Success I managed to fit the new one. After reading the replays to my previous post I traced the cable into the engine bay and all the way to the end. It did take another afternoon to fit but the new Dash looks great (Aluminium)well worth the time. Good luck.

[oli_quick]

Ronan, where did you source your new cable/dial from?

Was it the whole unit, including the oil pressure dial?

cheers...

[R8nan]

Yes the whole thing comes as a complete unit. I had to get mine from the local TVR dealer. By the way the dials come in white or cream so make sure you order the right one to match.

[Alistair H.]

R8nan said:

Yes the whole thing comes as a complete unit. I had to get mine from the local TVR dealer. By the way the dials come in white or cream so make sure you order the right one to match.

How much? - My temp guage is misreading and I may have to go down the same route.....

[R8nan]

It worked out at £120 and that included the VAT.

[budaholic]

I noticed on TVR-Gear that a new guage was £121. Being the stingey miser that I am, I rang Speedy Cables this morning.

They said they can rebuild my guage including a new capilliary for.........

£35 + Carriage + VAT.

I know what I'm gonna do.

I just need to know what the thread size is on the end of the tube so I can plug the hole while my guage is off being repaired???

Anyone??

[SXS]

Bud you're a hands-on man, why not just get shot of the standard guage altogether and go for a dual-readout digital SPA gauge?

I believe it fits in the same hole too with not much effort...

www.spa-uk.co.uk/design/dualgauges.asp

[budaholic]

They do look right perty, and I'd love something with some accuracy. But it'd look a bit out of place among my other guages and I'm not replacing them all.

plus I wanna keep it original and I like the stock Smiths guages.... believe it or not.

Bud