coolant temperature sensor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Kentucky
coolant temperature sensor
Only posts I see are very old so posting again for information.
I have a 1980 L-48. I think the current sensor is bad as the gauge tests good. The current sensor has a "button" connector and all I find as a replacement have the blade connector. The sensor wire appears to be factory and has the button connector on it. The only sensors I find with button connector are for older model C3s. Do I use an older sensor or get the one with the blade and change the end on my wire.
I have a 1980 L-48. I think the current sensor is bad as the gauge tests good. The current sensor has a "button" connector and all I find as a replacement have the blade connector. The sensor wire appears to be factory and has the button connector on it. The only sensors I find with button connector are for older model C3s. Do I use an older sensor or get the one with the blade and change the end on my wire.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,801
Likes: 4,421
From: Virginia
My L48 80 has a spade connector on that sender. But so do the "correct" sending units at Zip:
https://www.zip-corvette.com/79-80-t...ding-unit.html
Interestingly, taking the GM Part number, 8993372, and entering it at RockAuto, shows senders with spade connectors as well.
The "correct" harness also expects a blade-type connection.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/77l-82-...ss-repair.html
Is it possible your engine/heads are not original? Or perhaps just your sender?
https://www.zip-corvette.com/79-80-t...ding-unit.html
Interestingly, taking the GM Part number, 8993372, and entering it at RockAuto, shows senders with spade connectors as well.
The "correct" harness also expects a blade-type connection.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/77l-82-...ss-repair.html
Is it possible your engine/heads are not original? Or perhaps just your sender?
Last edited by Bikespace; May 26, 2020 at 02:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,203
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
FYI
I just went through this on my '69.
The plastic protector on my wire clip had disintegrated so I bought a new pig tail also. Before changing the sensor, I tried grounding the wire clip and nothing happened (should have done this before buying a new sensor). So I spliced in the pig tail first and the gauge worked. Somewhere in the 1ft of open wire from the harness to the sensor the wire had failed. It looked fine on the outside.
Anyway, check your wire first.
I just went through this on my '69.
The plastic protector on my wire clip had disintegrated so I bought a new pig tail also. Before changing the sensor, I tried grounding the wire clip and nothing happened (should have done this before buying a new sensor). So I spliced in the pig tail first and the gauge worked. Somewhere in the 1ft of open wire from the harness to the sensor the wire had failed. It looked fine on the outside.
Anyway, check your wire first.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 22
From: Kentucky
FYI
I just went through this on my '69.
The plastic protector on my wire clip had disintegrated so I bought a new pig tail also. Before changing the sensor, I tried grounding the wire clip and nothing happened (should have done this before buying a new sensor). So I spliced in the pig tail first and the gauge worked. Somewhere in the 1ft of open wire from the harness to the sensor the wire had failed. It looked fine on the outside.
Anyway, check your wire first.
I just went through this on my '69.
The plastic protector on my wire clip had disintegrated so I bought a new pig tail also. Before changing the sensor, I tried grounding the wire clip and nothing happened (should have done this before buying a new sensor). So I spliced in the pig tail first and the gauge worked. Somewhere in the 1ft of open wire from the harness to the sensor the wire had failed. It looked fine on the outside.
Anyway, check your wire first.
Thanks, wire and gauge is good. Needle pegs when wire is grounded. Guess I’ll just change the plug. I ordered new sensor from Zip Corvettr
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,033
Likes: 9,156
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Call Willcox first. I needed a smaller NPT thread on my 68 for an aluminum head I didnt want to drill and tap. The labor is fair if you need something like that done, but you should call and see if he has exactly what you want in stock.
