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Help with coolant temp sensor


Unbreakable7132

Unbreakable7132

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I bought an aftermarket coolant temp guage to install on my 89 2.3. The when I pulled the plug from the sensor with the truck running the idle dropped way down and I lost alot of power.Is there another place in the head or the block that I can put the probe for the guage without disconnecting the factory sensor?Or is there a way to keep it from running like shit even if that plug is diconnected?Thanks.
 


Jspafford

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There are two coolant related sending units. One works the guage in the dash, the other is the one the engine uses to control vital functions. Sounds like you disconnected the wrong one.

I am not too familar with the 4 cylinders, but someone will chime in and tell you where the correct sensor is.
 
Wicked_Sludge

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the sensor with 2 wires going to it is for the PCM, you need that one.

the sensor with one wire going to it is for the factory gauge, thats the one you want to replace.
 
Unbreakable7132

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But where is it located?Every tech manual I have found only shows the one for the pcm.
 
Wicked_Sludge

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drivers rear side of the block, just below the oil pressure switch.
 
Unbreakable7132

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Below where the old oil sending unit was?I'm looking under here and can't see shit.
 
Wicked_Sludge

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it should be just below the oil sending unit IIRC. the oil sender is in the head, right? the temp sender should be in the block just below that.
 
Unbreakable7132

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oil sender is in the head.Let me look again.
 

Mark_88

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Wicked_Sludge said:
it should be just below the oil sending unit IIRC. the oil sender is in the head, right? the temp sender should be in the block just below that.
Click to expand...
That's where mine is...just below the intake manifold...last intake inlet near the firewall...can't remember ever being able to see it fully without removing the intake...

The one for the computer is lower near the oil pan on the same side...more towards the front of the engine...
 
Unbreakable7132

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Found it.Thanks guys.
 
Wicked_Sludge

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cool :beer:

now that the factory gauge is unplugged, the needle will always sit pegged on the far side of "cold". if you want the gauge to look like its still working, you can attach one lead of a resistor to the wire that went to the factory sending unit and the other lead to a ground and it'll make the factory gauge come up and look like its working. total cost: $0.34

i did this in my blue escort when i added a mechanical temp gauge...i like to pay attention to details :icon_thumby:
 
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