Doesn't getting called: "Guru":

Make you feel like the Baghwan rajhneesh?

Remember the baghwan, the one who had all the Rolls Royces in the 80's and
porked all the girls on his commune?

Ah buht anneywhay, youh seehm tuh need a new sensor. Dat yehar steehl vahs
on de sensor, not on dee coolant temperature sensor, through the ECM.

Peace for the rajhneesh, and pease on you!

Refinish King

Actually you're all wrong  :-)  I took the gauge cluster apart this evening
(very easy to do on this model).  the key happened to be on, and I just
pushed the gauge cluster (to release the metal backing) and the temp gauge
came back!!  I put the dash back together and took a spin, and noticed as I
left the gauge went wonky again....simply pushing on the bottom of the
custer (above where the warning lites are) and it came back.  has been
working ever since.

next question:  wtf????  after 22 years the connection at the back is loose?
from what I could tell (I didn't have enough nerve to pull it apart past the
gauge lense) the three small gauges kind of "press in" with long studs on
the back that engage in brass tangs.  is this close?  could it be something
flakey in there?  perhaps the gauge itself is going wonky?  any thoughts?

I haven't driven the old girl in about 2 years, and decided to pull er out
this summer to clean it up and try and sell it.  I'm happy to report that
after all that sitting the only glitch is a wonky temp gauge  :-)  oh:
http://members.shaw.ca/installz/for%20sale/1982_Camaro_Z28_1_files/frame.htm
in case anyone cares.

bmoney