water temp gauge sensor placing.

[FL_PR5]

well my water temp gauge has come in and i am waiting on my air/fuel from a fellow forum user. well i got this in and i went out to my car and was looking for the correct placement. but i noticed our stock one has a sensor on it that i cant correct tap into. so i could use some advice on it. so here's the setup:

i have to get put my new one in but the existing one has sensor wires already on it. but i have to put a 18 wire gauge on my new sensor to link my gauge. here's what it looks like now:

here's the new sensor sitting next to it:

the clip on top unclips but how would i put that clip sensor on my new one with my 18 gauge wire linking off the top?

here's a pic of the surrounding area. i don't know if there is another spot i can put the sensor and get the same accurate readings or not.

any advice would be a lot A LOT of help, thanks. (cool)

 

[A.V.MSP]

the small coolant line thats next to that clip, just cut it and put a T in it and screw the sensor into the top of the T and have the line flow thru the T.

 

[FL_PR5]

thats not a bad idea, but do they make T joints that wide so that i could screw the sensor into it? where would i get one that big? also, would it be the same temp as in that original point or would it be cooler or not? i would just like the most direct temp of engines water.

 

[FL_PR5]

has anyone else done this and kept the original wires or no? any pics would help. (bump)

 

[TurfBurn]

I pulled off that water manifold that the stock sensor is in.. drilled a hole into it, tapped with with the correct NPT threads, and screwed that sensor in right there.. worked perefect

 

[mazpro]

Interested in this. I have had my gauge sitting in a box for over 3 months beacuse I coulnd figure out where to install. and I need it bad, because I broke the stock one putting the overlays on.

 

[FL_PR5]

well i dont really feel like pulling off my block and tapping it to screw it in. i'm 17 and in HS so i dont have all the time and equipment. (boom03) can i just pull off that switch run the 18 gauge wire through a side whole in the plastic? or would it be too fat? and mazpro this is the piece rigth after the top radiator hose that connects to the block. its right next to the bracket. you can't miss it.

 

[mazpro]

yeah, I saw it, but I couldn't find an adapter to use both of them

 

[FL_PR5]

to use both sensors? i would just like to use the one for my autometer water gauge. but i dont want to trip my water light and cause problems. plus i'd like to have a second back up light.

 

[lasermp5]

Ya. I suck at this guage business. I got an oil temp, and the cheapo a/f to install, but idk wtf to do w/the oil temp lol. I'll admit it, I'm a noob when it comes to some s***. I was going to get a greddy oil block adapter for it, but idk what to do. Anyways, was thinking about water temp too, so I'll keep an eye on this.

...dam guages *shakes fist*

 

[FL_PR5]

what i'm thinking is: put in new sensor. put 18 gauge wire on for direct line to new gauge, and then try to slip the plastic link for the stock wires over it without pinching the 18 gauge wire too much. just tried to sum up my idea and dumb it down a bit so it wasn't confusing to read.

 

[mazpro]

Ya. I suck at this guage business. I got an oil temp, and the cheapo a/f to install, but idk wtf to do w/the oil temp lol. I'll admit it, I'm a noob when it comes to some s***. I was going to get a greddy oil block adapter for it, but idk what to do. Anyways, was thinking about water temp too, so I'll keep an eye on this.

...dam guages *shakes fist*

the oil temp is actually very easy. all you gotta do is get the "T" adapter, and take out the stock sensor in the back of the engine, and replace it with the adapter and use both sensors.

that's what I am trying to do with my water temp, but I can't find an adaptor for it.

 

[mazpro]

what i'm thinking is: put in new sensor. put 18 gauge wire on for direct line to new gauge, and then try to slip the plastic link for the stock wires over it without pinching the 18 gauge wire too much. just tried to sum up my idea and dumb it down a bit so it wasn't confusing to read.

I don't think that would work, but worth a try.

 

[FL_PR5]

ha, yes. i had to research a few pages/sites for info on gauges since i don't know that much about them or the hook up on them i should say. plus the instructions that came with them are kinda bland so it's not very specific. but i am thinking of a oil temp gauge next after i get my a/f gauge from mr. fellow user/ups truck. damn that truck taking forever. but the drawback is buying more items to plug in a sensor. but i dunno, first this gauge then pod pillar.

 

[TurfBurn]

I for the life of me can't follow what you are trying to do with this whole putting a the clip over an 18 guage blah blah blah... not following you in the least... so here is what I can tell you

1) DON'T cut, change, or move the stock water temp sensor... it HAS to be there and not be disturbed. Mess that wiring up and your car will run like crap and likely throw a CEL

2) if you don't want to tap that water manifold, then you need to cut your upper heater hose which is the 1-1.25" diameter hose running from that same manifold and goes down and around behind the engine. You can build a T from parts at Home Depot that will fit inline with that and will hold your temp sensor... BUT then you need to make sure that you run a ground wire/strap from that T to the block so the autometer has a ground path.

 

[FL_PR5]

so i take it that there is no other spot that i could put teh sensor next to the original one? the gauge has a grounding wire screw on it that i could attach a wire to. andi can ground that T with another wire i guess. they make T's in that diameter with a plug big enough for the sensor? i just havn't seen one.

do you have any pics of one or any exact store like home depot or lowes?

 

[TurfBurn]

if the gauge sensor has a ground spot on it, that will be fine and you wouldn't need to ground the T. If you wanted to put the sensor next to the other one you'd have to drill into that manifold and tap it which was my first suggestions.. it only takes a hand drill and an NPT tap...

If you you use a 1/4" NPT T you can screw two 1/4" NPT pipes into it (it may be 3/8" NPT or 1/2" NPT.... I don't remember off hand completely) and then the spot for the sensor you just screw in an NPT adapter... depends on what size your gauge sender is.. usually is 1/8 or 1/4" NPT.... but put that adapter into the T and you'll be all set...

 

[Salmon_Rob]

you people need electric gauges

 

[TurfBurn]

that IS for an electric gauge.. still has to be in the water stream to read the temp.

 

[Salmon_Rob]

you can tap into the signal at the ecu coming off of the sensor. its what i did with all of my gauges except for the oil pressure on the first gen, BUT MAKE SURE ITS THE ECU side. like as close to the ecu as possible, or its not as accurate