temperature guage - subaru conversion

Post by **ally** » 25 Jul 2006, 11:53

the guy who did my conversion couldnt figure out how to do the tempurature guage.

Does anyone know how to do it?

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 25 Jul 2006, 13:15

Errrrr, hook the temp gauge out from the ECU up to the temp gauge sender wire to the dash.

Some speak of putting a 22ohm resistor in to pull the gauge back, but I guess mine just runs cold - must be cos I'm so nice to it.

Post by **klatuu** » 25 Jul 2006, 15:38

the wire that comes from the temp sender from the block is white/green (from the big gray plug), this just connects to the wire going to the van gauge.

And as DH says put a resistor in to pull the reading down, I use a 37k and the needle sits in the middle.

Post by **syncroand101** » 25 Jul 2006, 15:39

Don't you Jap Chaps also drill a whole in the Thermostat as well?

Post by **scoobyvan** » 25 Jul 2006, 16:05

syncroand101 wrote:Don't you Jap Chaps also drill a whole in the Thermostat as well?

why?

Post by **ally** » 25 Jul 2006, 20:41

ok

whats a block? the engine?

there is a wire from the ECU labelled "thermostat" - where do i put that?

im not really a mechanic.

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 25 Jul 2006, 22:00

Oh yeah, I drilled a hole in the stat (cos the one I took out had a hole in it)

That'll be why it runs so cold then, not cos I'm nice to it after all.

In hindsight I wouldn't have bothered. Hey ho - it's all a learning curve.

Post by **klatuu** » 26 Jul 2006, 08:34

Yes the block is the main part of the engine.

By thermostat I assume the thing that goes in the thermostat housing that cuts off the water flow until the engine is warm?

The thermostat should have a hole in already from new, they all do, its to allow a small amount of water to flow around the cooling system so you dont over pressurise the pipes and split or blow them off!

If the hole in the thermostat is too big then this allows too much water to flow through and the engine won't get up to normal operating temp unless its on for a longer period of time, this could lead to excessive wear on the engine components. Also if the hole is too big you are essentially making the thermostat useless and the water will flow around it and not throught it.

If you buy a thermostat, DO NOT BUY A HALFORDS, this is a generic one that has a higher temperature rating, 83deg if memory serves correct, its also physically smaller and does not sit in the water flow the correct way, go for genuine Subaru, they are rated at 78 degrees and are the correct size.

~in fact as a general rule DO NOT BUY ANYHTING HALFORDS~
I only use them as a last resort, and even then I will not buy halfords branded stuff.

Ally, What colour is the wire labelled thermostat, do you know which ECU plug it comes from, and which pin?

Post by **ally** » 26 Jul 2006, 10:42

thanks

yes the wire is labbelled "thermostat housing" its not plugged into anything.

It is black and green, i can see it going into the ECU but dont know what pin number, if the ecu is face up on the table with the plugs facing you its the right plug = 5th pin along on the bottom row.

so does this wire just plug in somewhere on the "block" see im learning.

The temp gauge on the dash is also not working, is that the same thing?

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 26 Jul 2006, 10:54

the guy who did my conversion couldnt figure out how to do the tempurature guage.

Sorry, but who did you get to do your conversion? Did you pay them?

If the temp sensors on the engine aren't connected then your engine will think it's cold and will rich the fuel mixture right up to compensate - this will cause your vehicle to fail the MOT horrendously on emissions.

Post by **ally** » 26 Jul 2006, 11:05

yes i paid him - i just spoke to him, and he said that the wire is the one that goes from the ECU to the Volstwagen tempurature gauge.

Post by **klatuu** » 26 Jul 2006, 13:16

Ally,

what engine is it? what year?
I am basing this info on my conversion, a 1993 2.2.

It could be that wire that goes to the temp gauge, but black/green on my loom is an ground wire.

also the wire from the temp sender on my van does not go through the ecu, it goes straight to the gauge

Have you got a multimeter? You can either take a chance and connect it to the temp gauge or ground it but I would check to see if it has any current running through it first or check it for resistance.

can you see the temp sender on the engine? it should be on the top of the engine on the water manifold. what colour wire is that.

also does your ecu have four plugs?

Post by **ally** » 26 Jul 2006, 14:07

my engine is a EJ20 - not sure the year think its 96.

I rang up TSR who prepared the loom for me, he said it goes to the temparature gauge.

My ECU has 3 plugs - 2 big on the outside and a little one in the middle.

ok i dont know what a water manifold is, ill look on top of the engine to see if i can see any wires coming out.

thanks

Post by **klatuu** » 26 Jul 2006, 16:10

Ah...my elastictrickery is different to yours.

The water manifold lies diagonally across the engine underneath the intake manifold (with the throttle body and injectors which problably has the coils attached to the top.)

It might be a bit difficult to see, but one of your big radiator hoses will connect to it.

Have you gone for the reversed manifold conversion?

If not the coolant temperature sender might be attached to the leading edge of the water manifold on the left hand side, you will have to lean right over the engine.

Post by **ally** » 26 Jul 2006, 16:45

ok ill look.

Manifold conversion? whats that then?