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Water temp sensor

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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 05:50 PM
  #1  
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From: Dairy, OR
Water temp sensor

92 7.3 IDI.. My temp gauge has not been working.. today I noticed there is what looks like a water temp sending unit on the front drivers side of the engine that is unhooked. Is that it? If so what color is the wire that should be hooked to it?
 
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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 10:12 PM
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From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
aaahhh i have the same issue, i just found that it is the one that has the pull off connector like the GP's. Not as big and looks threaded. I am almost positive that it is the one next to the IP on top of the block. The stock model looks like this. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=390064867491
 
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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 10:22 PM
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From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
woo hoo ol red the bad *** engine pic comes through, i found it!!!

 
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Old Jan 16, 2010 | 09:10 AM
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woohoo nice pic wreckinball, that explains it! The temp light switch is the one I found unhooked, will hook it back up today and check the gauge sending unit while I am in there.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 09:59 AM
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Is there some type of test that I can use to see it my temp gauge sending unit is working at all? Mine has never worked, but I'm just finally getting around to trying to fix it. Also I'm almost certain that my thermostat is stuck open also, so I've never been worried to much about it overheating. But with the recent cold snap, its been killing my MPG. Trying to fix both problems this weekend!
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 10:21 AM
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Diesels need to run around 200 to be effeciant.
You can ground the wire on he temm sensor and your guage should go to hot, if it does it is usually your sensor, if the guage doesn'tmove it is gauge or wiring related.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 10:35 AM
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Good luck getting one at a parts store. They couldn't find the right temp sensor with a post on top of it and kept telling me I needed the one that had a locking clip on it. So they had to look up an earlier year to find it. I installed it and the temp sensor is either reading wrong, something's wrong with my gauge or thermostat, or something's wrong with my radiator. My stepdad just bought a sensor made by the same mfg from a parts hut for his Chevy, it wouldn't run until he uninstalled it and reinstalled the original sensor. I'm not big on the sensor brands most parts stores carry. It seems like more and more parts stores are carrying junk parts and their computers are wrong. I wish I bought my sensor from the dealership.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 11:21 AM
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From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
I would go with aftermarket so you can see what is really going on. Normal means Jack Shi! I need to see a temp so I know when I am pulling!
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 11:43 AM
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I appreciate the help. The gauge is good, apparently the bullet connector slipped of the end of the sensor. I'll find out if the sensor is good when I leave work this evening! After that, tackling the stuck thermostat!
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 12:57 PM
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From: Faibanks Ak.
For a thermostat use a oem one from either international or ford. There is a lot of aftermarket ones that shows an application for the IDI but cause problems, kinda like glowplugs.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 07:19 PM
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so...............

what do these motors do when,
thermostat is bad?
water pump is bad?
head gasket is bad?

mine used to run at the beginning of the normal bar, now moves all over from there to the N at normal. it goes back and forth and back and forth. i need to get a mechanical gauge.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 07:29 PM
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this time of year, im lucky to make it to N on the gauge.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2010 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by johnboggs21
this time of year, im lucky to make it to N on the gauge.
40something low and 50something high here. rain like a **** though.
 
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 08:26 AM
  #14  
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allerickb
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From: Cartersville Georgia
Originally Posted by yotee
so...............

what do these motors do when,
thermostat is bad?
water pump is bad?
head gasket is bad?

mine used to run at the beginning of the normal bar, now moves all over from there to the N at normal. it goes back and forth and back and forth. i need to get a mechanical gauge.
Mine won't even make it to the N in normal, even after idling for some time after a trip. About 1/2 way to the N is the most I can get out of it. I'm positive my thermostat is stuck wide open. I'm sure its not helping that my fan clutch doesn't free-wheel as it should when cold either. My truck hardy has any cab heat which is another sign of a stuck therm.

Rather it be stuck open than stock closed though, but I was freezing my ***** off a couple weeks ago and its guzzling diesel (not that it was all that great on it before )

My local dealership getting a replacement in today!
 
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Old Jan 20, 2010 | 09:13 AM
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If your fan clutch is locked up it takes quite a bit of diesel to turn it too.
 
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