Temperature sender location

[redxlt]

My temp gage doesnt work. I cannot find the sender unit. Anyone know where its located on the engine? Its an 86 xlt. 2.9 V-6 . Thanks

 

[disciplerocks]

There are 2 temp sensors on top of the thermostat housing right in the front of the motor. The 2 wire one on the left goes to the ecu, the single wire one on the right goes to the gauge. Good luck finding it at Autozone. I replaced mine and it took the guy 20 minutes to find it in the computer. I forget what they called it now.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Im not for sure but look on the thermostat housing going to the upper radiator hose. You have the temp sensor for the computer with two wires and the sender has one wire. Turn the ignition on and touch the one with one wire to ground the guage should show hot. Alot of times it is just a loose/dirty connection crimp it a little so it fits tite on the sender. If the connector is good and the guage goes hot when you ground it it is the sender. You can also check it for voltage with the key on you should be getting around 8 pulsing volts. The sender provides the ground for the guage.

 

[redxlt]

tem sender location

I found the sender unit and it had been disconnected. I hooked it up and it worked but it reads HOT . Even though it isnt. I assume the sender is bad?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Probably why it was disconnected. Did you measure the volts coming from the wire it should be a pulsing 8 volts or so with the key on.

 

[redxlt]

Installed new unit still Hot. Placed wire on ground and gage goes to hot. Dont have voltmeter to measeure volts. should I change other unit? Or install aftermarket gage and forget about it? Gas gage reads beyond full when I filled it up as well. may be a clue as to its problem.

 

[holyford86]

instrument voltage regulator might be going bad, or need adjustment.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

+1 on the voltage regulator I am not sure where yours is, on older fords they are bolted on the circuit board on the back of the guage cluster. It controls the power to all the guages oil,water,fuel so your oil pressure is probably wrong also. Maybe you can get a cheap guage cluster at the bone yard or pull a couple of regulators one is bound to work correct.

 

[CountryBoy704]

so ive had similar things happen in my '87, i thought it was overheating and put in a new water pump, fan clutch, and thermostat, started reading even hotter and i just took the thermostat out. now it stays at the beginning or below my "normal" range, the fuel gage drops to empty after 40 miles and jacks way up above full with a full tank as well...same problem??

 

[mishqua]

I hate going to these guys but Schucks has the temp sender for 6 dollers.