1983 280zx digital dash temp
 

The temp gauge in my digital dash is completely off any suggestions?

get a new sender check the wiring and connectors. download fsm from xenon and check the resistance of the sender.

if the sending unit was bad it would result in a black gauge?

The sender is just a resistor that changes resistance with temperature. It's half of a voltage divider. One side the resistor is a fixed value and on the other side is your temperature controled resistor. The gauge just reads the voltage and displays it as a temperature value. XenonS130 will get you the FSM which will tell you what value the temp sensor should be. You can measure it at the connector to the gauge if you want to verify the connections and wiring at the same time but it's easier to measure the sensor itself.

If the sensor isn't working the gauge will still work (unless the gauge is broken as well) it will just read the wrong value.

The very first thing I fixed on any car was my 240Z temp sensor because the temp gauge wasn't reading - true story.

wow man you really know your stuff thanks much appreciated guess i need a new digital cluster cause i dont think i can just get that individual gauge. its completely black and reading nothing

rick might have a broken wire so no voltage to the sensor

If u need another cluster i have two.. hit me up if so.

Now is the time to swap in an Analog gauge ;)

i have an after market one like the sort from autozone but its too big for any of the passage ways ive tired to fit it to