Water Temp. Gauge
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 108
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From: Huntington,W.Va.
Water Temp. Gauge
On my 95 F150 the water temp. gauge does not work. When I turn off the key, the gauge go's all the way to the left and bottom out. When I turn the key back on, the gauge will move just a little, back up. I've replaced the the sending unit and check the wires back as far as I can, and it checks ok. If it is the gauge, can I just replace it, or do I need to get the complete panel?
Thanks
Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
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From: Easton,Ks
You said wires and that means two wires and it means you changed the wrong unit.
You changed the water temp sensor for the computer and you need to change the water temp sender with one push on wire behind the distributor on the drivers side.
You changed the water temp sensor for the computer and you need to change the water temp sender with one push on wire behind the distributor on the drivers side.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 108
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From: Huntington,W.Va.
Thanks for that photo. The manual said I should disconnect the battery and drain the rad. to remove the sensor, Is that correct?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
I see no reason to disconnect the battery as that wire would be dead with the key off and would not make any difference if it were on or off as that is the way you test the gauge.
To check the sender/gauge you would short that wire to ground and then leave it hang. The needle should swing full scale from one end to the other.
Taking the sender out will allow coolant to flow out the hole so you can drain the radiator down below the level of the sender so you do not get coolant everywhere.
To check the sender/gauge you would short that wire to ground and then leave it hang. The needle should swing full scale from one end to the other.
Taking the sender out will allow coolant to flow out the hole so you can drain the radiator down below the level of the sender so you do not get coolant everywhere.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 108
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From: Huntington,W.Va.
Ok, removed the gauge temp. sender wire and grounded it, and still did not get a response from the gauge. So the next step would be the gauge. Can you just get the gauge and replace it, or do you replace the whole gauge assembly?
Thanks
Thanks
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 957
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From: Graniteville
You can replace the gauge in the cluster without replacing the whole gauge. LMC lists them for 149 w/o a tach and 199 w/ a tach, so you might want to hit the local JY up and look for it. As for swapping the sending unit, if you dont want to drain the radiator, here's a trick we use on Semis to swap out sensors and water filters. Take a black plastic garbage bag, and put it in the filler neck on the radiator and then put the cap back on, so it's sandwiched between the filler neck and cap. You can then pull the sending unit and not dump coolant all over the place.
New User
Joined: Jan 2014
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new to the forum...need help with my '95 4.9L v6 5 speed w/OD
Confused on the location of the coolant temperature sending unit which the Chliton manual states it's on the front of the engine, driver side and is the unit that controls the gauge on the instrument cluster, correct?
FYI...I'm not a car/truck guy, but do some maintenance on my own. Recently dropped the transmission to replace the slave cylinder/throw out bearing with the help of my 17 yr. old son.
Confused on the location of the coolant temperature sending unit which the Chliton manual states it's on the front of the engine, driver side and is the unit that controls the gauge on the instrument cluster, correct?
FYI...I'm not a car/truck guy, but do some maintenance on my own. Recently dropped the transmission to replace the slave cylinder/throw out bearing with the help of my 17 yr. old son.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2013
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Changing temp sending without draining radiator
L Ward. Changing temp sender on my 351W today and was hoping not to have to drain my radiator to do it. I just installed a new aluminum rad and coolant not long ago.
Anyway saw your trick with the black plastic bag trying to figure how that works? I have a small overflow tank too would i need to cover that as well or no. Trying to keep the mess down to a minimum in my garage.
Thanks Len
Anyway saw your trick with the black plastic bag trying to figure how that works? I have a small overflow tank too would i need to cover that as well or no. Trying to keep the mess down to a minimum in my garage.
Thanks Len
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
Len, I just swapped the sender on my 351W. While it did dump some fluid, it wasn't much, a pint or less. I just did it outside and it didn't dump enough to run anywhere, just soaked into the ground.