Re: Cold engine or faulty temp gauge?

[Mike <mac50@columbia.edu>]

Thanks to all for the info on the temp gauge mystery.  Any ideas on how to
replace the temp sensor/sender unit (are they the same?), or is this
something the dealer should do?  Also, is it safe to keep driving long
distances (again, the oil temp remains totally normal--is that  good
enough guide til I can get this fixzed?)  Thanks again, Mike





On Mon, 6 May 1996, Andrew Duane USG/PE wrote:

> Sorry if this is a resend, my mailer barfed at the last one.
> 
> Hairy green toads from Mars made Mike say:
> 
> > Just got back from a long trip in the ol' 89 100 and was disturbed midway
> > in the 5 hr trip when I noticed that my water temp gauge apparently
> > stopped working.  It read below the lowest mark on the "cold" side.  Oil
> > temp remained very close to 80C throughout (as it always does).  The trip
> > ended and I parked the car and turned it off.  Then, before getting out of
> > the car we noticed it was a no parking zone, so I fired her up to move
> > and--presto!--the gauge now registers about 1/4 to 2/3 of the max.  
> 
> Sounds like an intermittent temperature sensor in the engine.
> Been there. Done that. On both cars ('89 100Q and '90 90Q).
> 
> If the problem is that the temp guage either reads correctly,
> or "zero", then it's almost assuredly the sensor. It's about $80-100
> to buy a new one, less than 5 minutes to install.
> 
> 
> I'll have to peek inside my engine to remember where it is and
> what it looks like, but it's pretty obvious, and easy to get at in
> a 100/200 (give it up on the 90).
> 
> -- 
> 
> Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane@zk3.dec.com
> Digital Equipment Corporation		(603)-881-1294
> 110 Spit Brook Road			http://www.zk3.dec.com/~duane
> M/S ZKO3-3/U14
> Nashua, NH    03062-2698
> 
> Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too heavy to care.
> 
> 
>