How do I know what wires go to my Temp Gauge? UGH

[samm835]

OK I have an 86 Sunsport with a 351 PCM(ford), over the winter I recovered my dash. I thought I was doing the right things when I took each gauge out I labeled them. Well I some how screwed that up to be honest. I have a guage for gas(works) a depth (old doesn't work) a clock (face cracked) and my temp gauge it did work prior to taking everything apart. I am going to buy new depth and clock gauges, but are not at the top of my list because I don't really need them. I thought I hooked the wires back up correctly, I know I have some power to it because it will move some once the ignition is turned on, but then it goes flat. The PO had rewired everything and didn't use the same wire colors, so i can't just look at a manual for help. Can anyone tell me how to trace wires back to the sender and figure a way out of this hell hole I have put myself in please. Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

 

[NYBo]

Re: How do I know what wires go to my Temp Gauge? UGH

Start at the motor and find the temperature sender. It screwed into the motor, probably near the thermostat housing. See if there is a wire of the same color connected to the sender running up under the instrument panel. This assumes that the PO used a continuous length of wire rather than splicing in any old color. However, this strategy also won't work if the PO used the same color wire for more than one thing in the harness. In that case you'll have to check for continuity from the sender wire (disconnect it from the sender) to a wire under the instrument panel.