Ok guys back to the well for more answers. I've got an 87 xj with the gauges instead of idiot lights. Problem is my engine temp gauge quit on me. I replaced the sender which is actually called a switch(whatever) and no change. The gauge reads way below 100 so I know it is not getting anything. Any ideas?

 

You sure you installed a sender for a guage and not an idiot light? Pull the wire off of the sender and ground it out, the needle should swing all the way to the right. If nothing happens you have either a bad gauge or an open in the wire someplace.

 

The description said for a gauge and the wiring matched up but who knows. I will check the gauge by grounding and see what happens.
Thanks

 

Ok checked the gauge it works so out comes the new sender and I'll try another one tomorrow.

 

Make sure to tell the parts monkey behind the counter that have a guage, not a light.

 

Update: autozone does not have a listing for an 87 with a gauge although the website says it is for a gauge. I had to get one for an 88 and we'll see what happens. Not the first time I've had to go up a year for the right part. If mine wasn't an AMC I'd bet it was an 88!