In a message dated 9/21/99 9:26:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
mwalter@luminet.net writes:
<< Got the '79 Midget running and took her out for a drive last night. Things
went well. However, the temp gauge never moved off of "C". Also, the temp
gauge and the gas gauge both got fogged up inside ( it was about 50 degrees
here). I just bought the car this summer. The owners seemed like an honest
couple. I would assume that if the gauge was broken, they would have told
me (yes, I am naive sometimes). What else might I check? Should the fog in
the gauges worry me?
Damn that thing is fun to drive :-) >>
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I have a '77 Midget and the temp gauge uses a capilary tube from the sender.
If the capilary tube is damaged the gauge won't work. I'm not sure if a '79
uses the same sender, but if you bumped the capilary tube, it could be
evacuated, so it will not work. The gauge can be rebuilt, or you can order a
new one from Smiths.
If it is an electrical sender, there should be a wire from the sender unit.
Check all the connections. I will assume, of course, that there is coolant
in the radiator! If there is no coolant, the temp gauge can read cold, while
the engine is actually melting. A bad situation.
As far as the fogging, you can pull the gauges out and remove the glass for
cleaning, then make sure they are completely dry before reassembly.
Reassemble the glass covers with a thin seal of silicone RTV. Warning,
small hands required for gauge removal and reinstallation!
Allen Hefner
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
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