Sensor question
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
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From: Frequently frozen MN
Sensor question
Anybody know why there's a temp sensor for the gauge, and another for the computer? 
I know that the computer needs an accurate reading, but it would seem to make sense to use the same one for the gauge. There have been cases of check engine lights and poor running, because the computer temp sensor failed, and the engine stayed in open loop. Meanwhile the temp gauge says everything is okey doke.
And things can get worse. I read about a GM that was overheating because the BODY CONTROL COMPUTER sensed low battery, and told the engine control computer to reduce electrical load -- which it did by disabling the fan.
-- all this without apparently showing any low battery indication on the instrument panel.
Just some things that I find odd
ford2go
I know that the computer needs an accurate reading, but it would seem to make sense to use the same one for the gauge. There have been cases of check engine lights and poor running, because the computer temp sensor failed, and the engine stayed in open loop. Meanwhile the temp gauge says everything is okey doke.
And things can get worse. I read about a GM that was overheating because the BODY CONTROL COMPUTER sensed low battery, and told the engine control computer to reduce electrical load -- which it did by disabling the fan.
-- all this without apparently showing any low battery indication on the instrument panel.
Just some things that I find odd
ford2go
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
Likes: 2,754
From: Virginia
The newer trucks do use one sensor. The reason they can do this is they have a computer in the instrument cluster, and they still have the engine computer. These two and a few others "talk" to each other through a network. So they can exhange info and eliminate a few wires and sensors.
Technology progresses in the auto industry a little more slowly than in other industries I guess. The trucks you are talking about basically had "old school" instrument clusters with new engine management systems that were seperate, thus the seperate sensors. The computer sensors were ungrounded 5v type, were the cluster sensors were the grounded type and could have been a primitive 5-6v supply or 12v.
Technology progresses in the auto industry a little more slowly than in other industries I guess. The trucks you are talking about basically had "old school" instrument clusters with new engine management systems that were seperate, thus the seperate sensors. The computer sensors were ungrounded 5v type, were the cluster sensors were the grounded type and could have been a primitive 5-6v supply or 12v.
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