[Riffers70]

What is the best way to test the Temperature Sending Unit to verify that it is working correctly?
Thanks!

------------------
Madness takes it's toll, please have exact change.

Fred
'70 Chevelle
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/shop/9385/1970Chevelle.html

 

[Manny Gomez]

Hey Riff,
Try hooking up another gauge by sticking the sending unit in your heater connection or in the plug in the top of your water pump if your pump has one. Leave your other unit connected at the same time. You don't have to drill new holes to mount the temporary gauge in the dash; just stick it below with some velcro. An electrical gauge is easiest to install, but a mechinical is more accurate. mgg

 

[Riffers70]

Thanks manny...will check it out one night this week.

------------------
Madness takes it's toll, please have exact change.

Fred
'70 Chevelle
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/shop/9385/1970Chevelle.html

 

[Philip]

Fred, Different places on the engine will give different temperature readings. Readings will be close but not the same between the available places you can put the second gauge. Even putting it into the other head may not give you the same reading. Philip

 

[283v8]

Water boils at 212 degrees F -take the sender out of the engine (drain coolant etc) leave the gauge/harness wire connected, ground the sender body to the car with a wire and put the end of the sender in boiling water - should be 212 - make wire extensions if needed and BE CAREFUL

------------------

 

[Riffers70]

283,
Sounds good in theory, but I experience enough pain and knuckle busting when working on the car wihout applying boiling water to the equation. Thanks for the idea, tho.

Fred "born a clutz"

 

[Bill T SS70]

Hey Fred,

What is the wife going to say when you try to drive the car into the kitchen so you can park it next to the boiling water on the stove ???

Don't scratch that fancy front bumper when you go thru the sliders...

hehe

 

[Ken M]

The coolant sensor is basically a variable resistor, that changes resistance with heat.
If your vehicle has the correct temp sender, then find out what the resistance spec is at a specified temp (Autozone has a book that lists many different temp senders, and there specifications), and replace the temp sender with a basic carbon comp resistor. For example at 220 degrees the resistance for a particular sender might be 10K ohms. Then find a 10K ohm resitor and put that in place of the sender (make sure the correct wattage resistor is used). The gauge basically reads the voltage drop across itself, which changes as the resistance of the sender changes. This test should verify the gauge and associated wiring.

 

[Riffers70]

Bill,

Ya know...the car (and the bumper) made it just fine through/up/over the deck. Didn't even slow down going thru the sliders, but stopped dead in it's tracks when it hit the wife's meatloaf. I don't think the bumper will ever be the same. By the way anyone know how to remove a spatula? The wife had unique ideas once she saw her new drive in...

Fred "having trouble sitting down" Dowd

[This message has been edited by Riffers70 (edited 05-18-99).]

 

[283v8]

YOU NITWITS !!! Obviously you need to run a new 220 circuit in your garage and move the stove from the kitchen into the garage !!! Who ever heard of driving the car into the kitchen - - - HMMMMMMMMMMM got some real possibilities though !Watch TV in the den while working on the Chevelle ????

------------------

 

[Patrick Schamun]

If you have gauges in the car, remove the radiator cap (cold) use a meat thermometer and compair the two. Worked for me