water temp sender
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
water temp sender
I put headers on my 76 and the water temp sender is picking up the heat from the headers and pinning the gauge. I used a heat gun on the thermostat housing and the temp runs 180-190, so I know the gauge is ok and the temp is ok. Where can I move the sender. There is a plug on the intake but it is under the upper rad hose and thermostat housing and will not fit. The only other plug it the top of the water pump housing, but this seems to run 10 degrees cooler. The intake is an edlebrock RPM performer.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,698
Likes: 9
From: Johnson City TN
Worth a shot. It is possible to get the wrong sender, I have proven it. 
First check the wire to the sender - make sure it isn't grounding to something, which may give a false signal. Have you used your heat gun to verify the temps of the sender housing and the surrounding areas? If they aren't as hot as what your gauge reads, then the headers probably aren't causing it.
I also have headers on my '76 with the sender in the stock location and no heat shielding. Have never had a problem with false readings due to external heat.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
Worth a shot. It is possible to get the wrong sender, I have proven it. First check the wire to the sender - make sure it isn't grounding to something, which may give a false signal. Have you used your heat gun to verify the temps of the sender housing and the surrounding areas? If they aren't as hot as what your gauge reads, then the headers probably aren't causing it.
I also have headers on my '76 with the sender in the stock location and no heat shielding. Have never had a problem with false readings due to external heat.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 434
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland Ohio
I bought a sending unit from NAPA last year. The gage said 260 all day long. Replaced it with a correct temp range unit. Not it sits around 185 all day. The sending units and set for like 220 degree gages and 280 degree gages. Interchange the two and your reading will be way off.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
I bought a sending unit from NAPA last year. The gage said 260 all day long. Replaced it with a correct temp range unit. Not it sits around 185 all day. The sending units and set for like 220 degree gages and 280 degree gages. Interchange the two and your reading will be way off.
What range do I get?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 434
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland Ohio
http://www.napaautoparts.com/masterp...itch&VehCode=Y
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
No way the headers are affecting the sensor reading. The part that senses the temperature is on the inside of the engine, not the back side where the wire plugs in. Either your coolant is really hot, the sensor is not correct, or there is a problem with the wiring.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
I put headers on my 76 and the water temp sender is picking up the heat from the headers and pinning the gauge. I used a heat gun on the thermostat housing and the temp runs 180-190, so I know the gauge is ok and the temp is ok. Where can I move the sender. There is a plug on the intake but it is under the upper rad hose and thermostat housing and will not fit. The only other plug it the top of the water pump housing, but this seems to run 10 degrees cooler. The intake is an edlebrock RPM performer.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
Thanks for all the help I am checking for a short and buying a new sender. I can always count on everyone here to give good suggestions.
Thanks for all the help!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 669
From: FL
www.lectriclimited.com
They have sensors for our cars with the correct resistances to make the gages read correct. Just got a new one since I busted the terminal off my old one removing headers. $19.00
They have sensors for our cars with the correct resistances to make the gages read correct. Just got a new one since I busted the terminal off my old one removing headers. $19.00
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 239
Likes: 5
From: Rochester NY
ajstr1265,
Unplug the the wire going to the sending unit, your gage should now read zero deg (cold) = bad sending unit.
If it still reads hot then you have a shorted wire and your sending unit is OK.
Unplug the the wire going to the sending unit, your gage should now read zero deg (cold) = bad sending unit.
If it still reads hot then you have a shorted wire and your sending unit is OK.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
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From: Oreland PA