190 temp gage

[fla8v]

I've got a 87 190 (8V) with an 84 motor (suprise after purchase......lucky me). The temp gage has never worked (along with the odometer and low oil light staying on). A local shop swapped out the gage set and got nothing on the temp gage. Any thoughts on troubleshooting here?

(I don't want to overcook the motor I had to rebuild three weeks after purchase......no I'm not bitter). I try to keep up with the quirks of this car....gets me where I'm going. Or like the local Austrian mechanic told me "Dry it til de veels fall of".
:p