crazy temp. gauge......

[krazyreese]

can anyone tell me why when i throw my car into reverse my temp. gauge goes straight from cold to hot? its not overheating either, i fixed my tachometer problem and now its my temp.

can anyone tell me why its doing that?
thanks

 

[jdmjim]

weird, are there any cut wires around

 

[mirrorimg]

You definitely shorted something. I guess you have an automatic?

When the reverse light gets power, its probably also sending power to the temp gauge lead, causing it to climb.

 

[krazyreese]

there was a bare wire which i thought went to the temp. sending unit but i wrapped it in electrical tape and connected it. but i was guessing that i accidently swicthed the reverse wire and the temp wire so i swicthed them back to see what happens. well nothing on the temp gauge and i havent checked to see if the reverse lights were working yet.

but i have 5speed, b18a1, stock trans.