Indecisive temp gage needle

[Brett Dikeman]

At 10:55 AM -0400 5/27/04, Gregory Coe wrote:

>But the coolant temp sensor measures the temp of the coolant coming out of
>the cylinder head, so it's most likely located at the back of the engine in
>one of the hard coolant lines.

...except on all type 44's, the only sensor responsible for gauge 
operation is on the front of the engine, hanging upside down with a 
large boot covering it.  The boot has 3-4 wires coming out of it.

>  You want to change it with the car cool, so
>there is no pressure in the system.  This should prevent any significant
>coolant loss.  You might lose a little, but the sensor should be in the top
>of the pipe, and it's one of the highest points in the system, so nothing
>will come pouring out.

First release residual pressure via the expansion tank cap.  Then you 
loosen it with a wrench, unscrew, plug the hole with your finger 
while you fumble for the new one.

>  > On Thu, 27 May 2004, Gregory Coe wrote:
>>  > Replace your coolant temperature sensor.
>>
>>  Yeah, but which one?  I have a '87 5kcstq with the same behavior.  Aren't
>>  there like 3 coolant temps sensors on the type 44's?

There are; on the CIS turbo cars there is a thermoswitch for the 
injector fan, the after-run system sensor, an engine temp sensor for 
the ECU, and the infamous multifunction temp sender(which is what 
needs replacing).  There's another switch for stage 2 fan operation 
somewhere, I forget where...bottom of the radiator?

>  >
>>  > It's a very inexpensive and easy to change part, and they are
>>  very failure
>>  > prone.  I just replaced one on my A4.  Cost about $6.00 and 5 minutes of
>  > > work.

Try $50-60 (unlike on your A4, it's a complex sensor- two switches 
and a thermal junction, although some are electronics-based) and a 
fair amount of cussing if you don't have a wrench that fits in the 
space; it's not exactly easy to get to with a wrench due to all the 
plumbing in the way.  Luckily things are a little more open on the 
non-turbo cars...

Notice something about my post guys?  Namely, that I only quoted the 
text I was replying to?  Hint, hint?

Brett
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