Temp sensor, which one?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lexington ky
Temp sensor, which one?
On my 81 I have three (what appear to be) temp sensors on the car. One dual wire located in the water neck next to where the emission stuff use to be, one single wire on towards the front driver side of the head, then a third on the rear passenger side head. I have A/C and a factory electric fan (don’t know if it works). I want to clean up my engine but I don’t know what goes to what, any help?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lexington ky
Re: Temp sensor, which one? (jac1502)
No I took that stuff off with the smog pump. I think it was in my manifold before I switched to an edelbrock and the sensor was to tall to clear the radiator hose
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 3
From: far, far away
Re: Temp sensor, which one? (jac1502)
Paul is correct. Passenger side head sensor is for the electric fan, and is a 2-wire, if I remember right. Driver side head sensor is a one-wire for the gauge. Those two will physically interchange because the threaded holes in the heads are the same, but they operate completely different. The one for the fan is a thermal switch, with a single off/on point. The one for the gauge is a variable resistor.
The sensors in the water neck are not electrical, but are TVSs (thermal vacuum switches) for EGR and EFE operation. However, there is another electrical temperature sensor in the intake manifold near the water neck. The sensor provides intake temp data to the computer. [edit] Forgot to mention, the intake temp sensor for the computer is a two-wire.
:seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 12:36 PM 9/19/2003]
The sensors in the water neck are not electrical, but are TVSs (thermal vacuum switches) for EGR and EFE operation. However, there is another electrical temperature sensor in the intake manifold near the water neck. The sensor provides intake temp data to the computer. [edit] Forgot to mention, the intake temp sensor for the computer is a two-wire.
:seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 12:36 PM 9/19/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Re: Temp sensor, which one? (Gator81)
Thanks for that clarification! The TVSs (EFE and EGR) were clear in my mind but I forgot the 1981 went to computer control; hence the wires to the t-stat area.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Temp sensor, which one? (Gator81)
The one for the gauge is a variable resistor.
I'm glad this topic came up. I'm having a little problem with mine, does anyone know where I can get the ohms @ T degrees F?
I'm glad this topic came up. I'm having a little problem with mine, does anyone know where I can get the ohms @ T degrees F?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Temp sensor, which one? (Big Fish)
I've never received a straight answer on this question, I'm still using my original sender (it still works thank goodness) but in the intake manifold, because my L98 heads (ZZ4 crate engine) only has 3/8npt holes in it for a skinny thermo-sensor. A while back someone posted a thread saying that they had found a Volvo sensor (I think the part number was WT508) that was a 3/8"npt direct replacement for C-3 sensors.
A couple of weeks ago someone else posted a link to a place that had direct replacement 1/2 npt sensors as a direct replacement, I went to the link, but they were sold out at the time.
I know that the ones you get from a parts house do not function as they should and aren't even close to what our gauges require.
I know one fellow who bought an aftermarket gauge and installed it under his hood, that way he could "adjust" his dash gauge by eye.
A couple of weeks ago someone else posted a link to a place that had direct replacement 1/2 npt sensors as a direct replacement, I went to the link, but they were sold out at the time.
I know that the ones you get from a parts house do not function as they should and aren't even close to what our gauges require.
I know one fellow who bought an aftermarket gauge and installed it under his hood, that way he could "adjust" his dash gauge by eye.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
