My coolant temp gauge is pegged at the low end. This started the day after I squirted some of the road dust off of the engine. Where is the sender located? Can I cross the jack terminals to check the condition of the sender? What is the best way to go? (Besides not getting the engin wet, it gets pretty funky on the dirt road I travel.) Thanks for your input, you guys have never let me down. See Ya.
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09:07 PM
PFF
System Bot
My7Fieros Member
Posts: 3357 From: Germantown, TN Registered: Jun 2000
Theres actually more than one sendor. Theres a coolant sensor, located on the pass side of the block just under the thermo housing, theres a temp sensor, located (I believe) on the drivers side, rear (closest to the trunk) corner, and then I think theres another temp sendor for the ECM, but Im unsure of its location. Lemme know if you get it fixed, one of my Fieros has the same prob (temp guage only reading up to the first line).
I had a problem with my temp gauge reading low. Turned out that the glue holding the needle to the armature shaft of the gauge itself had broke loose and when the armature would turn the needle remained stationary giving me a "false" cold engine reading on the gauge.
Does your temp needle peg to hot when you start the car -if not you might have knocked the sender wire loose at the engine. The sender (on V6) is located in the head just below the dist. It has 2 green wires going to it and most likely a burned connector. Just ground both wires and your gage should peg and the idiot light come on. Often the connection between the sender and the wires gets corroded or loose sometomes just working the connector a little fixes it up. This may not be the prob. but at least you can check it for free.
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08:28 AM
Tigger Member
Posts: 4368 From: Flint, MI USA Registered: Sep 2000
If you have a 4 cyl. the temperature gauge sensor is pointing straight up on the left hand side (driver's side) of the head. Check the plug for corrosion and ground both wires to see if the gauge pegs and for the dash light. If it pegs your wiring is good, and the temp gauge sensor is bad.
I had the same problem. The Haynes book tells you how to check the gauge. Disconnect the connector from the temp sender and short one wire to ground(I forget which one so try one at a time) If the temp gauge needle swings to fully clockwise the wiresing and gauge are OK. If not good luck, you probably need a new gauge. If the temp gauge pegs fully clockwise the sender is bad. I gat a new one at Pep Boys. I don't remember the part number but have the look it up in their data base and it is the one that says sensor and gauge. Check tat one and make sure the connector is correct ,if not don't buy it and try another store till you get one that matches yopur temp sensor in fit,form and function.
------------------ Peace and Happiness Frank and his fotoflash, an '84 SE 2M4 http://fotofrank.homestead.com/foto1~ns4.html
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04:59 PM
Hank is Here Member
Posts: 4462 From: Hershey, Pa Registered: Sep 2000
These fellows have hit the nail on the head! I was having the same problem with my 87 GT with the temp gauge only going one bar up. I just got done testing the grounding method and it worked! Only needed a pocket knife, a 1/2 cent paper clip, and 10 min(well i had trouble with the connector). I just got the paper clip stuck it ito each connector, grounded it to the lifting ring and PRESTO the gauge shot up and the light came on. All I need is a new sending unit now.
