Thanks for your reply David. Everything with the wiring checked out and 
the gauge responded correctly. The gauge is now working and the problem 
was a simple issue of an incomplete connection from the terminals not 
being completely seated in the new plastic plug. Thanks for your 
explanation of the system and the tests that helped me isolate the 
problem.

David Clarkson

Subject: Re: question on temperature gauge wiring

>  Is it possible to reverse these and have the gauge not function at 
all

No, it's not sensitive to polarity, it's just a thermistor.

>  or do I need to recheck my connections with the wires only? I did
> inspect the wires themselves and they do not appear to be brittle
> or have any cracked insulation. Thanks for any wisdom on how this
> wiring works with the sensor.

Unplug the connector and look for +10v on one pin.  If you find it,
ground it for a few seconds max while someone watches the gauge -- if
it shoots up like a rocket then that side is probably all good.  If
it doesn't, you have high-resistance connection somewhere in that
side.  If you don't find +10 at all then you have an open.

For the other side check resistance to ground, should be ~0R.  If
both sides test good, bad connection to sender or open sender.

Yours,
David