engine temperature guage.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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engine temperature guage.
ok so i replaced the small ever so cheap sending unit on the water pump thinking that was going to fix my gauge that isnt working, it did not. i bought this part from autozone cause i was down that way. either way i called o reillys and asked them what other parts they show listed that would make this guage work other then it being the guage itself or the wire. they said that their is a seperate coolant temperature sensor aside from the sending unit on the water pump. i went aehad and went up there and bought it, but cant for the life of me find it on the engine. the piece is made of a plastic like material so it cant go somewhere incredibly hot, if its even the right part. either way if anyone can help me that would be appreciated, i cant find anything on it online. the new part that purchased looks like this
BWD Coolant Temperature Sensor - WT381 - Compare Prices and Buy at PriceGrabber
the sending unit that i already replaced looks like this
AutoZone.com | | Temperature Switch | TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT
BWD Coolant Temperature Sensor - WT381 - Compare Prices and Buy at PriceGrabber
the sending unit that i already replaced looks like this
AutoZone.com | | Temperature Switch | TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT
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New User
Joined: Jun 2010
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well ive read that the duralast ones wont work for somereason? heard people say they can only get the guage to work with motorcraft brand. i went ahead and bought oreillys brand today to see if i can get it to work. the auto zone one i put it in with pipe tape, should i not use any tape at all? does the actual threading in portion make a ground with the block? maybe the tape isnt allowing it to ground and thats why its not working?
the needle does move, it moves to the c when i turn key to on, when i start vehicle i bottom out to the left
couldnt i just get an ohm meter or something and test something to find out whats actually working and not, or i guess i could find a spare guage and hook it onto that sensor maybe? i
the needle does move, it moves to the c when i turn key to on, when i start vehicle i bottom out to the left
couldnt i just get an ohm meter or something and test something to find out whats actually working and not, or i guess i could find a spare guage and hook it onto that sensor maybe? i
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 921
Likes: 1
From: Denver CO
The water temp sensor for your gauge is the one on top of the water pump which is the one you already replaced other than that its your gauge. with is lets just say less than quality. I run a 3 gauge pod with a 5 spd so since I dont need to monitor the trans temps like the autos do, I installed an electric water temp gauge with acutl temps readings on it. there is another port on the driverside of the waterpump that has a plug in it you can remove and put in the sensor they come with there and that is far more accurate. simply wire the power supply wire on the gauge to a circuit that is only hot when the key is on, they are very low draw. I recommend the empty position in tyour fuse panel. Unless your truck has airbags which it seems most dont, so the fuse postion is not connected on both sides to be used, the side that is there is hot with the key on so you can simply put a spade connector on the wire and plug it in there.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 6
From: Medford Oregon
On a 97 there are two temp sensors. The first is the standard coolant temp sensor which controls the temp gauge in the cab. The second is the coolant over temp sensor switch which illuminates a warning light in the cab (engine hot) or something like that. I think the second sensor activates around 250* or so, it's just a switch ... off or on.
The engine coolant temp sensor does use the threads as a ground so don't use pipe tape or the sensor won't work. To test the gauge simply unplug the wire on the sensor and the gauge should read all the way to the left (cold). Next put the - side of the battery (ground) on the sensor wire with a jumper and the gauge should move all the way to the right (hot). When doing the (hot) part of the test have someone watching the gauge and remove the jumper before the meter pegs. If the above tests works then the wiring and the gauge are working.
With an ohm meter you can test the sensor itself. Unplug the sensor wire and measure the resistance of the sensor using a good engine ground. Here are just a few values you might see ...
32* - 98,000 ohms
50* - 59,000 ohms
70* - 33,600 ohms
90* - 21,500 ohms
The engine coolant temp sensor does use the threads as a ground so don't use pipe tape or the sensor won't work. To test the gauge simply unplug the wire on the sensor and the gauge should read all the way to the left (cold). Next put the - side of the battery (ground) on the sensor wire with a jumper and the gauge should move all the way to the right (hot). When doing the (hot) part of the test have someone watching the gauge and remove the jumper before the meter pegs. If the above tests works then the wiring and the gauge are working.
With an ohm meter you can test the sensor itself. Unplug the sensor wire and measure the resistance of the sensor using a good engine ground. Here are just a few values you might see ...
32* - 98,000 ohms
50* - 59,000 ohms
70* - 33,600 ohms
90* - 21,500 ohms
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well i think im going to install the other new one today anyways, i have read quite a few times where people cant get the duralast ones to work for some reason. so if i gotta take it out, may as well put a different one in, i guess this time im not oging to use pipe tape at all and hope it doesnt leak. if it doesnt work then i will do the guage testing as described.
as a side note, i was wanting to install a transmission temperatur guage on my truck as well as a turbo boost guage on my truck. im told i can get a boost bolt for the turbo and tie that in to the gauge network, and that i can either do a tranny pan sensor or an inline sensor for the transmission. which do you think is best for the tranny? also do you guys have a good place where a person could find gauges?
if it is in fact my coolant temperature gauge, then i will need a third gauge to buy as well, so if something came in package so to speak that would probably be the better route. i have seen vehicles with the gauges along the left of the front window on that trim piece i thought looked kinda neat and out of the way. anyways let me know some input there if you can.
as a side note, i was wanting to install a transmission temperatur guage on my truck as well as a turbo boost guage on my truck. im told i can get a boost bolt for the turbo and tie that in to the gauge network, and that i can either do a tranny pan sensor or an inline sensor for the transmission. which do you think is best for the tranny? also do you guys have a good place where a person could find gauges?
if it is in fact my coolant temperature gauge, then i will need a third gauge to buy as well, so if something came in package so to speak that would probably be the better route. i have seen vehicles with the gauges along the left of the front window on that trim piece i thought looked kinda neat and out of the way. anyways let me know some input there if you can.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 6
From: Medford Oregon
To each his own on gauges. I went the route on a single multipurpose gauge that reads just about everything except coolant temp and exhaust temp, although those can be added as optional inputs. It also reads and clears trouble codes. Separate gauges has their advantages but I wanted to know what the PCM was seeing to make its decisions. Also it just plugs into the OBDII port so very little wiring is required.
This is my ScanGauge and I got it from Jim at "Rosewood Diesel". When I install a exhaust temp gauge will probably get a separate gauge just for it and use a 2 pillar pod setup.
This is my ScanGauge and I got it from Jim at "Rosewood Diesel". When I install a exhaust temp gauge will probably get a separate gauge just for it and use a 2 pillar pod setup.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 6
From: Medford Oregon
It will cycle through up to 8 items, two at a time and is fully programmable.
Here is a link to their site and should answer any question you might have ... Aeroforce Technology Inc | Products - Interceptor
You need to check around the web as may places sell them. As I mentioned I got mine from Rosewood Diesel, a sponsor on here.
Here is a link to their site and should answer any question you might have ... Aeroforce Technology Inc | Products - Interceptor
You need to check around the web as may places sell them. As I mentioned I got mine from Rosewood Diesel, a sponsor on here.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,195
Likes: 6
From: Medford Oregon
ScanGauge has two analog inputs available for use such as water / transmission temp etc. If you have a auto transmission then it already reads transmission temperature. Here is a list of some of the items it reads, on mine at least ...
Transmission temp
Oil Temp
Boost
IAT - air temp
Battery Volts
RPM
MPH
ICP pressure
IPR duty cycle
Injector PW
EBP
Probably some I forgot, going from memory here. It also does Injector Buzz and CCT tests. One of the parameters I usually monitor is EOT and since it and coolant temp are usually within a few degrees of each other I've not bothered to add a coolant temp sensor to one of its available analog inputs.
Transmission temp
Oil Temp
Boost
IAT - air temp
Battery Volts
RPM
MPH
ICP pressure
IPR duty cycle
Injector PW
EBP
Probably some I forgot, going from memory here. It also does Injector Buzz and CCT tests. One of the parameters I usually monitor is EOT and since it and coolant temp are usually within a few degrees of each other I've not bothered to add a coolant temp sensor to one of its available analog inputs.
Tuned
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 277
Likes: 37
From: Littleton, CO
ok so i replaced the small ever so cheap sending unit on the water pump thinking that was going to fix my gauge that isnt working, it did not. i bought this part from autozone cause i was down that way. either way i called o reillys and asked them what other parts they show listed that would make this guage work other then it being the guage itself or the wire. they said that their is a seperate coolant temperature sensor aside from the sending unit on the water pump. i went aehad and went up there and bought it, but cant for the life of me find it on the engine. the piece is made of a plastic like material so it cant go somewhere incredibly hot, if its even the right part. either way if anyone can help me that would be appreciated, i cant find anything on it online. the new part that purchased looks like this
BWD Coolant Temperature Sensor - WT381 - Compare Prices and Buy at PriceGrabber
the sending unit that i already replaced looks like this
AutoZone.com | | Temperature Switch | TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT
BWD Coolant Temperature Sensor - WT381 - Compare Prices and Buy at PriceGrabber
the sending unit that i already replaced looks like this
AutoZone.com | | Temperature Switch | TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT
The BWD one is an air temp sensor.
Tom