TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

Last year I put in an aftermarket water temp gauge bc we all know the water temp gauge for the 98-02 cars is a dummy gauge.

Here is some info on why I think either its reading cold, or reading the correct temp in this particualr head. And why i think it might be off.

For starters I have a 160ºF T-stat and I have LEDs for my fans (manual switch) When I got my car tuned, my tuner turned my LOW fan to come on at 190ºF and to turn off at 180ºF. My HIGH fan to turn on at 220ºF off at 210ºF. Again I have a manual fan switch (tapped into the PCM) that tell me when the computer is turning on my fans. Once my car hits 190ºF my computer turn on my LOW fan, being light up by my green LED

So here we go now. The stock water temp sensor is located in the front of the drivers side head. And my aftermarket water temp sensor is located in the back of the passenger side head. Is it possible to get 2 different readings? Which way does the coolant flow? Where does it start, and where does it end?

With my aftermarket temp reading, when my LOW fan turns on, again visually I can see it with my green LED I know the car is at 190ºF. But my aftermarket water temp says that my car is at 155ºF; a difference of 35ºF... Is that possible? Remeber I have a 160ºF T-stat...

This is why I was asking for coolant flow. Could the passenger head read cooler (depending on flow) than the drivers side head?

Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

I gotta swap sending units in mine, I have a Autometer electric H2O gauge. It reads about 250 and I've got both fans on.

FWIW: Mine is also in the rear of the passenger side head

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

Do you think that the reading with the stock water temp sensor in the drivers side front head is correct? I mean when the water temp hits 190ºF the computer does turn my low fan on, and at the same time my aftermarket water temp that is in the back of the passenger side head does read 155ºF. I guess that does make sense since I have a 160º T-stat..

Am I right or wrong

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

Couldn't tell ya since I have no PCM in my car, just a 6010 box.

I'm going to buy a temp gun and check it that way

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

that was the next thing that I was going to do. Is use a temp gun and get as close as I can the where the sensor is reading. I have to wait till I bring the car to work again

Remember the skin (outside) might be a little warmer/cooler then where the coolant is actually hitting the sensor

If you don't mind, if you do this before me, can you post the results you get? I would to see what temp you get on the stock water temp sensor on the front drivers side head, and see what you get for the aftermarket water temp sensor on the back of the passenger side head...

Thanks!!!!

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

Will do but I'm not running the stock sensor, that hole has been plugged.


I'm gonna swap out the Autometer sending unit first since I have a spare one and see if it changes anything.

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

man... i've got my autometer guage hooked up, the sensor installed in the passenger head, but never plugged the wire in

been that way for about a year now...

I really need to do this...

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

hahaha now that is funny

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

I've found the other sending unit and I'll be swapping it out this weekend

chrs1313

iTrader: (24)

mine pretty much stays at 180 and sometime tips close to 195 at most...

try the gun on the head and also i would pop the radiator cap off and point the gun directly at the coolant...i think this will be your best bet...remember to start the car with the cap off

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

more sad than anything LOL

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

I now know that my aftermarket water temp gauge has to be off.

I took the car out today, and it is about ~50ºF outside. I was on the hwy and my low fans turned off. Remember they are set to go on at 190ºF and off at 180ºF. My aftermarket water temp was reading 135ºF.. That cannot be possible. I do have a 160 T-stat in there but there is no way that my car can get that cold??

Like I said I think the gauge is off by 35ºF. B/C if that is the case, then when my gauge was reading 135ºF and there is a 35ºF difference, it should of indeed been reading 170ºF which would make sense..

Fvck man, I dont want to take the gaguge out. These are a PITA.. Anyone have a way to recalibrate it w/o sending it back to the company?

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

maybe it's just the sender?

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

Today I called the manufacturer of my gauges, he is sending me a new sending unit out today.

Now I have a question.. With their old sending unit, I was almost positive that their thread pitch was the wrong thread pitch b/c I had used an autometer adapter (drilled and tapped it) to make the sending unit from the manufacturer work..

What is the NPT of thread in the rear passenger side head?

Here is what the sending unit and their gauge looks like


And here is the Autometer adapter with the sending unit attached

Joshiedoom

iTrader: (4)

subscribed. on a side note 98 sensors are not dummy gauges lol.

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

I think it is 12x1.5


I got busy this weekend and didn't get it swapped out. I'll give it a shot again this Saturday

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

Yes you're correct.. 97-98 cars water temp gauges are real

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

wonder why they'd switch to dummy guages?

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

Yes you're right 12x1.5

TORCHD 02 TA

iTrader: (39)

I got my new sender last week.. Now I just need to make time to swap the old sender out with the new one..

Couple questions...

The Autometer adapter and I am using has a crush ring.. I am assuming that thins is garbage.. Now should i use teflon paste or tape now when I put the sending unit back in the autometer adapter?