Temp. Gauge
01-10-2006, 12:42 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 210
Temp. Gauge
my temp gauge always reads low its never at normal i constantly check the radiator(which is perfect) but on the other hand am constantly refillin the overflow bottle wich seems to get empty often. i know the gauge moves butit either stays at the 1st mark or below should i get it checked or its ok?
01-10-2006, 03:59 AM
#4
Sith Lord/Site Mod
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IA
Posts: 5,036
RE: Temp. Gauge
Stang, are you smelling any funny smells when you open the hood? That could be another symptom to help us diagnose.
I wouldn't worry too much about filling the overflow bottle. In fact, odds are you are wasting fluid by refilling that. ALWAYS check your fluid level in the radiator for a true fluid level check (and of course ALWAYS do this when it's cold - boiling hot antifreeze makes for a TERRIBLE fashion accessory!)
Back to the situation at hand. I figure you have one of two problems:
1) you have a faulty sending unit. Those things are EASY schmeezy to replace. Pull it out, take it down to the local auto parts store (in a different vehicle
) and match it up - I always like taking the old one in. Nothing like some jackhole at the parts counter telling me it'll work and get home and it's metric or some stupid stuff. Put some teflon tape on the new one and screw it back in. Literally less than a 10 minute job once you have all the parts. Odds are your sending unit is at the front driver side of your intake manifold, and it should be a little brass looking doodad with an "L" shaped wire attachment on the top of it. I think it's an orange wire with a white tracer, but I may be wrong about that. Don't get too caught up on that color - it'll be obvious when you see it. This would be the easy fix.
If you do this and you are still registering low then probably
2) you have a bad thermostat that is sticking open and not restricting water flow in the block to maintain a proper operating temp. I ran a 306 once without a thermostat (don't ask) and the motor actually ran at about 140 degrees!!! Crazy, and the motor ran like crap.
Which brings me to my next question: How's the pony running? If you are operating at a too-low temp, that may very well affect other systems (fuel density, mainly, amounts of vacuum present etc.).
Tell uncle pounder a little more about your problem and I bet we'll get it figgered out.......[sm=smiley20.gif]
I wouldn't worry too much about filling the overflow bottle. In fact, odds are you are wasting fluid by refilling that. ALWAYS check your fluid level in the radiator for a true fluid level check (and of course ALWAYS do this when it's cold - boiling hot antifreeze makes for a TERRIBLE fashion accessory!)
Back to the situation at hand. I figure you have one of two problems:
1) you have a faulty sending unit. Those things are EASY schmeezy to replace. Pull it out, take it down to the local auto parts store (in a different vehicle
) and match it up - I always like taking the old one in. Nothing like some jackhole at the parts counter telling me it'll work and get home and it's metric or some stupid stuff. Put some teflon tape on the new one and screw it back in. Literally less than a 10 minute job once you have all the parts. Odds are your sending unit is at the front driver side of your intake manifold, and it should be a little brass looking doodad with an "L" shaped wire attachment on the top of it. I think it's an orange wire with a white tracer, but I may be wrong about that. Don't get too caught up on that color - it'll be obvious when you see it. This would be the easy fix.If you do this and you are still registering low then probably
2) you have a bad thermostat that is sticking open and not restricting water flow in the block to maintain a proper operating temp. I ran a 306 once without a thermostat (don't ask) and the motor actually ran at about 140 degrees!!! Crazy, and the motor ran like crap.
Which brings me to my next question: How's the pony running? If you are operating at a too-low temp, that may very well affect other systems (fuel density, mainly, amounts of vacuum present etc.).
Tell uncle pounder a little more about your problem and I bet we'll get it figgered out.......[sm=smiley20.gif]
01-10-2006, 11:12 AM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 210
RE: Temp. Gauge
well she runs good, but i can smell coolant from outside the car and sometimes when i'm inside the car.
ORIGINAL: groundpounder
Stang, are you smelling any funny smells when you open the hood? That could be another symptom to help us diagnose.
I wouldn't worry too much about filling the overflow bottle. In fact, odds are you are wasting fluid by refilling that. ALWAYS check your fluid level in the radiator for a true fluid level check (and of course ALWAYS do this when it's cold - boiling hot antifreeze makes for a TERRIBLE fashion accessory!)
Back to the situation at hand. I figure you have one of two problems:
1) you have a faulty sending unit. Those things are EASY schmeezy to replace. Pull it out, take it down to the local auto parts store (in a different vehicle) and match it up - I always like taking the old one in. Nothing like some jackhole at the parts counter telling me it'll work and get home and it's metric or some stupid stuff. Put some teflon tape on the new one and screw it back in. Literally less than a 10 minute job once you have all the parts. Odds are your sending unit is at the front driver side of your intake manifold, and it should be a little brass looking doodad with an "L" shaped wire attachment on the top of it. I think it's an orange wire with a white tracer, but I may be wrong about that. Don't get too caught up on that color - it'll be obvious when you see it. This would be the easy fix.
If you do this and you are still registering low then probably
2) you have a bad thermostat that is sticking open and not restricting water flow in the block to maintain a proper operating temp. I ran a 306 once without a thermostat (don't ask) and the motor actually ran at about 140 degrees!!! Crazy, and the motor ran like crap.
Which brings me to my next question: How's the pony running? If you are operating at a too-low temp, that may very well affect other systems (fuel density, mainly, amounts of vacuum present etc.).
Tell uncle pounder a little more about your problem and I bet we'll get it figgered out.......[sm=smiley20.gif]
Stang, are you smelling any funny smells when you open the hood? That could be another symptom to help us diagnose.
I wouldn't worry too much about filling the overflow bottle. In fact, odds are you are wasting fluid by refilling that. ALWAYS check your fluid level in the radiator for a true fluid level check (and of course ALWAYS do this when it's cold - boiling hot antifreeze makes for a TERRIBLE fashion accessory!)
Back to the situation at hand. I figure you have one of two problems:
1) you have a faulty sending unit. Those things are EASY schmeezy to replace. Pull it out, take it down to the local auto parts store (in a different vehicle
) and match it up - I always like taking the old one in. Nothing like some jackhole at the parts counter telling me it'll work and get home and it's metric or some stupid stuff. Put some teflon tape on the new one and screw it back in. Literally less than a 10 minute job once you have all the parts. Odds are your sending unit is at the front driver side of your intake manifold, and it should be a little brass looking doodad with an "L" shaped wire attachment on the top of it. I think it's an orange wire with a white tracer, but I may be wrong about that. Don't get too caught up on that color - it'll be obvious when you see it. This would be the easy fix.If you do this and you are still registering low then probably
2) you have a bad thermostat that is sticking open and not restricting water flow in the block to maintain a proper operating temp. I ran a 306 once without a thermostat (don't ask) and the motor actually ran at about 140 degrees!!! Crazy, and the motor ran like crap.
Which brings me to my next question: How's the pony running? If you are operating at a too-low temp, that may very well affect other systems (fuel density, mainly, amounts of vacuum present etc.).
Tell uncle pounder a little more about your problem and I bet we'll get it figgered out.......[sm=smiley20.gif]
01-10-2006, 12:38 PM
#8
Sith Lord/Site Mod
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IA
Posts: 5,036
RE: Temp. Gauge
I'm with vfast, and I was getting to that. You should get a mechanical gauge.
and a post edit
I may be wrong and zkit right. My car is an SN95, and Foxes obviously get their factory signal from a different spot. But I will reiterate with vfast that a mechanical gauge is a very good option and a simple addition, and THAT sending unit would go in the spot I originally identified.
and a post edit
ORIGINAL: zkit18
The part he is describing is the coolant temperature sensor. It is on the metal coolant tubes heading over the lower intake back to the heater core.
The part he is describing is the coolant temperature sensor. It is on the metal coolant tubes heading over the lower intake back to the heater core.
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