Coolant temp sensor leak

[bigfish]

i have an 88 2.1 caravelle and after the tatton park show this w'end, being sat in the queue to get out, i think i must of cooked my temp sender as my gauge isn't working now.
Is it going to be the one facing forwards that the problem is? and is there any difference between the side facing sensor and the forwards facing one? i was just gonna try switching them about to see if this was the problem before buying a new one?

if this doesn't solve the problem, what else could cause my gauge not to work? the red light is still flashing when first starting up and the radiator fan also kicks in, heat from the heaters and no obvious hot running problems i.e. still running when switched ignition off.

any ideas would be great

cheers
Brad

[ermie571]

Hi Brad, before getting wet, check the s circuit.

Get your self a short section of wire, and trim the ends so that the copper shows. Take th plug off the sensor that faces the front of the van. Bridge the two connections with your bit of wire, and turn ignition on (really helpful if you have someone to help - as soon as key is turned, if circuit is ok, the guage will shoot up.

If guage doesn't move when short-circuited, then you have to sort out the electrics and test again.

Might be a dodgy earth etc etc (or even a fuse...have you checked?)

Em
x

[bigfish]

I looked in the haynes for a temp sensor fuse and it didn't point out in fools english that there was one??? would it be in the normal place(on the big square plastic thing) if so, any ideas on number? i'm not lazy, i'm just in work at the moment and don't have chance to get out to the van to have a look, but i will before going home.

thanks for the tip about the wire, i'll try that when i get home, that's if the girlfriend is willing to come out and give me a hand...

[clartsonly]

I am maybe a little late on this the blue one is the choke, and the black one is the temp sender, the one easily accessible from the back of the van is the choke and is pointing to the wheel the temp sender is the one pointing to the front.

I found this out the hard way eg changed the choke for a temp sender and then wondered why it was not running very well from cold I got the answer on this ere forum.

make sure you bleed to water system afterwards.

[bigfish]

Thanks alot for all your help.

After spending a few hours under the van last night, swapping things, checking things and cracking a few knuckles, i found that a previous owner had spliced in 2 new wires and only covered the twisted wires with masking tape(the cream paper style tape), one of the wires had snapped and was covered in what looked like a green powder(maybe copper related) and the other had 1 strand holding it together and the green powder. i'm guessing the fact he'd made it too long and it was sat resting on the exhaust manifold hadn't helped things

cure:
splice in two new wires with half decent spade connectors, cleaned the whole lot up and replaced the choke and temp sender o-rings and retaining clips - jobs a good-en

thanks again
Brad (big fish)