Temp Gauge Spikes To Extreme Cold When Ignition Is Turned On.

I just had what I beieve was some type of short which fried my temp and fuel gauges. They were both working properly until that time. Everything else seems fine. I replaced the fuel and temp gauges in the cluster and the fuel gauge now works accurately. The new temp gauge does not. When the ignition is off the temp gauge reads just right of the “C”. When I turn the ignition on the gauge jumps to the extreme left (Cold) and stays there and never moves until ignition is turned off. The PO installed a mechanical temp gauge in addition to the stock electrical. I have had them both working at the same time and the mechanical is still working. So I know my engine temp is fine. I checked to make sure power was getting to the sender and it is. I thought it might be the stock sender itself so I replaced that as well. Same problem. Any thoughts? Could the new gauge’s needle have shifted in transit so the starting position is wrong? I’m guessing not but I am out of ideas.

Please note that I am aware that the mechanical gauge is great and I know I could just use that but I hate the look of it. Everything else on the dash is stock.

Thank you for you help in advance.

 

What brand gauge is your replacement? The Omix brand doesn't have a great following for reliability. I also assume you have the wires connected correctly?
-Donny

 

Bet you got a temp gauge that was factory wired wrong.

 

Read the original post again Don. He burned up the original one and replaced it with a new and now reads backwards.