Club 80-90 Forums

Hi guys,

My temp gauge sits really low and only rises a small amount (see photo). Here's what I've tried:

Shorted temp sensor on thermostat and gauge maxes out like it should.
Replaced temp sensor.
Temp sensor plug reads 10v across two terminals
Tested different resistances as per this post on the samba and everything checks out fine.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... f65e3a5a3e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I attached a meter across the terminals of the temp sensor and let the engine run and this is what it reads:
From cold starts at 1.2k ohm
after 5 mins drops to 650 ohms
10 minutes, 360 ohms
rests at about 320 ohms

Why is the temp sensor starting at such a high resistance? The thread from the samba says it starts at about 200 ohms. Do I need a different sensor?



Cheers!

Where did you buy it from?

Where did you buy it from?

Local vw mechanic (not the same one from the previous post!)
Did they make a few different sensors with different heads on them? I bought one off just kampers and it was the wrong fitting but looked like the same part. They had three different types on the website.

This is the one I took out.

It's a MV 2100cc btw!

They do have different connectors, I ordered the wrong one last time and had to make a short adapter lead up. No problem for me as electrics is my main subject. Personally I don't trust JK for anything other than camping accessories. Many folk on here have had problems with the quality of their engine parts. I would be checking the thermostat, or maybe just fitting a new Brickwerks one, just to be sure, and whilst at it I would order a new temp sender from them at the same time, they are not dear and then you have covered both bases.

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Slight aside = Do the Brickwerks temp senders come with the retaining clips and an "O" ring? I may be wrong but I seem to remember ordering the clips and maybe also the "O"ring separate, only to find they came with the sender. Or I could be remembering that wrongly. Best to check when ordering. Remember Brickwerks prefer email queries rather than phone queries, as they are often so busy.

CamMoore wrote:It's a MV 2100cc btw!

It's a year thing rather than a model thing, but make sure you order the one for the gauge, not the other one which is for either the carb heater or the engine management (if running on fuel injection).

CamMoore wrote:This is the one I took out.

Ummm, blue

The two I picked from, different connectors but same fitting to the actual housing, are listed here = https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/ ... ure+sender" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; as "Black" or "Black/Green". Just a case really of checking the plug / socket arrangement.

I wonder if the Blue one is not for the gauge? (I'm not going to start searching the JK listings )

According to this Brickwerks page = https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/ ... emp-2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; the Blue one is for the engine management, not the gauge, but the pic makes it look a bit different to the one in your pic.

Brickwerks wrote:New coolant temp sensor for the T3
Please note this is for the ECU on injection models and not to run the temp gauge on the dash.

According to this Brickwerks page = https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... emp-2.html the Blue one is for the engine management, not the gauge, but the pic makes it look a bit different to the one in your pic.

There's this one here that looks the same:
https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/ ... -blue.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do you know what the difference between the blue and the black/green sensors are? They look like they will both fit.

I find it odd that the sensor I removed, the sensor from the mechanic and the sensor from JK with the different connections all had a resting resistance of about 1k and struggled to get below 400 ohm.

Maybe I've been using the wrong sensors?

Yes that one you linked to does look the same as yours, BUT it's not the one for the gauge.

The one where you joined the two connectors up in the plug, that sent the gauge over to the right is obviously the correct position, but as far as I know (and pretty darn certain here) it should have one of the (black or black/green) ones that I linked to above in that location. I I were you I would get one of those from Brickwerks, checking to get the one with the correct shape connector, (and maybe get a stat too, whilst at it, just to be sure )

If ordering one, maybe best note what I said above re clips and "O" rings (if you need them).

like ghost says check you are changing the correct sensor (there is 2 close to each other). Sounds to me like someone has put the wrong connector on the wrong sensor to me. From memory the one that points to the front is the one for the temp gauge, so check the correct cables/ connector goes to it( the one you said you tested which made the gauge rise).