Installed Water Temp Gauge
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Installed Water Temp Gauge We all know the stock water temp gauge is a dummy on the '99 - '02 cars and mine always reads 210*. Last night I installed a water temp gauge. Used the fitting in the passanger side head.
I have a 160 t-stat in the car and while crusing lastnight on the highway (it was about 63* outside) my new water temp gauge was reading about 140*. The highest I saw it go was 160* sitting.
Now you are prolly thinking that is pretty cold, well again last night cruisng on the hwy, at around 75 mph the outside air temp was 63* and I have my low fan to turn on at 190*. I have a switch panel where I can controll both my low fans and hi fans. Or when the PCM turns them on, I can see what fan is being used b/c i have LEDs to tell me if the low fan is on or the hi fan is on. So if it is going off of the stock temp, my low fan is A L W A Y S running, which it is b/c my led fro low fan is always lit. I know they turn on and go off what the PCM is telling the stock water temp sensor. And if my car is always reading 210* it makes sense that fan #1 is A L W A Y S running..
So does that seem right, that my car was running that cool?
I have a 160 t-stat in the car and while crusing lastnight on the highway (it was about 63* outside) my new water temp gauge was reading about 140*. The highest I saw it go was 160* sitting.
Now you are prolly thinking that is pretty cold, well again last night cruisng on the hwy, at around 75 mph the outside air temp was 63* and I have my low fan to turn on at 190*. I have a switch panel where I can controll both my low fans and hi fans. Or when the PCM turns them on, I can see what fan is being used b/c i have LEDs to tell me if the low fan is on or the hi fan is on. So if it is going off of the stock temp, my low fan is A L W A Y S running, which it is b/c my led fro low fan is always lit. I know they turn on and go off what the PCM is telling the stock water temp sensor. And if my car is always reading 210* it makes sense that fan #1 is A L W A Y S running..
So does that seem right, that my car was running that cool?
I`m going to venture a guess that it isn`t reading properly.
For me in similar conditions, I get up to around 175* idling and 190* driving (says HP Tuners). Perhaps the sender or the gauge isn`t calibrated properly.
For me in similar conditions, I get up to around 175* idling and 190* driving (says HP Tuners). Perhaps the sender or the gauge isn`t calibrated properly.
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I've got a Autometer temp gauge as well and also have it in the passenger side head. My fans are setup on a switch and are always turned on when I start the car(both fans). My **** reads about 220* in town and on the highway. I'm not running a thermostat(the housing is gutted) however I do have a 160 sitting in my tool box that I am going to put on to see if it makes a difference.
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send them back to the manufacturer.. Only thing I can think of Thread Starter
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Well, I went to start my car today. It was a cold start. Hasn 't been driven since Friday of last week..
So I started the car and watched the water temp gauge. Now a little background. I have my low fan set to turn on at 190*, goes off at 180* I know when it turns on and off b/c i have LEDs for both low fans and hi fans
Ok so my car was idling and I was watching the water temp gauge. When my LED lit up for the low fan (190*) my water temp gauge said 155*
My gauge is off 35* 
So now do I need to send my gauge back to the company to get it recalibratetd?
I am kinda pissed now
So I started the car and watched the water temp gauge. Now a little background. I have my low fan set to turn on at 190*, goes off at 180* I know when it turns on and off b/c i have LEDs for both low fans and hi fans
Ok so my car was idling and I was watching the water temp gauge. When my LED lit up for the low fan (190*) my water temp gauge said 155*
My gauge is off 35* So now do I need to send my gauge back to the company to get it recalibratetd?
I am kinda pissed now
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From: Ames, Iowa
I can't say for sure if your sensor is off too much or not, but there will always be a difference in temp readings that the computer is giving and an aftermarket gauge. The two sensors are in different locations of the block and read different temp coolants because of that. I installed one myself in the passenger side and the gauge reads colder then the reading on my OBD2 reader.
U use an "adapter" to install the A/M sensor? If so, it may not have the tip far enuf into the coolant flow to read properly. It may also be poorly grounded. Did you use tape on the threads?
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I can't say for sure if your sensor is off too much or not, but there will always be a difference in temp readings that the computer is giving and an aftermarket gauge. The two sensors are in different locations of the block and read different temp coolants because of that. I installed one myself in the passenger side and the gauge reads colder then the reading on my OBD2 reader.
My water temp is in the back of the passanger head. The stock temp sensor is in the front of the driver head
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Here is a pic of the autometer adapter and the sender I am using. I think there is enough tip showing to get a good reading. It is not grounded poorly i know that, and yes i used teflon tape on the pipe threads.
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Well, I know my new water temp is off. The computer turns on my low fans that are lit with an LED at 190*.. When the low fans lit yesterday, my water temp gauge said 155*
My water temp is in the back of the passanger head. The stock temp sensor is in the front of the driver head
My water temp is in the back of the passanger head. The stock temp sensor is in the front of the driver head
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That is what I am talking about, the computer turns the fans on with the temp reading 190 at the front of the block, but at the same time the rear of the block is going to be cooler and the gauge reads accordingly. It's going to be off no matter what, the question is how much it's suppose to be off.
Wouldn't the front of the head (stock gauge) be cooler (fans running) vs. the back of the head (aftermarket water temp gauge) be hotter (no circulating air)?