MA61 temperature gauge wiring trouble after 1j conversion

[Bitsa]

Long story short. 1jzge in MA61. Temperature gauge never wired up after conversion. Wired it up yesterday and it read hot when cold. This morning when car was completely cold turned on ignition and gauge when straight to hot. Any suggestions ?

[cresslux]

gauge has to be earthed too more than likely a brown wire.
or your sensor is screwed.

[Bitsa]

I'm onto it.

[TheStitt]

Wrong sensor in the engine for the guage. Perhaps you need to install a 5MGE sensor into the JZ

[dumbass]

it ill be the earth from temp gauge like cressy said
Toyota earths the temp gauge back to the block
very common for backyarders to not know this wire needs connecting

[Bitsa]

Fixed it by running a wire straight from the temp sensor to the gauge wire in the dash. Well I didn't a mate did cause I got no idea. Big relief to finally have a working temp gauge. Thanks for your input men. Appreciated.

[cresslux]

sounds like there is an internal short in the harness then. if you ground the temp wire the guage will go flat out.

if this wire is buggered, then how many more are? could be behind your auto box issues?

[Bitsa]

cresslux I know very little about wiring, but, the wiring in the other Supra I have (5m motor stuffed) is all stock standard and looks very neat and everything works. The wiring in this converted Supra is a shit fight really and it's basically all stacked not neatly into the glovebox. There's plugs all over the place with nothing in them. Re the trans I'm not sure all the wires that are supposed to be hooked up to the trans actually are. I can start it in gear so clearly something's not hooked up. Anyway I made it more of a shit fight today by finding the old reversing lights plug and wiring a switch to it. Got reversing lights now. All I have to do is remember to flick the switch on and off.

[cresslux]

sounds like your car was wired by an autistic monkey.

if it were my car, i would get the side cutters out and start again haha

[Bitsa]

Got to use my reversing light switch last night. Bought a tear to my eye. Bottom line is I do own a pair of side cutters and I'm determined to outdo that monkey.