Temp Sensor Help..!

[stanno]

Hey Guys;

Recently the wire for the temp sensor (on the inlet side where the thermostat is) had fallen off... so now.. my fans run straight... Okay... I'm looking at the clip that can be removed from the sensor that the wires goes into... and i can't see how i'd get that wire back on the connector... Can anyone help me with a way to get it back on... & how long can i drive with it like this... i noticed that the engine runs alot cooler and idles higher ...which is expected...

-Stanno

[stanno]

More bad news... Was just looking at it again... and the entire wire fell out from the boot side too... help!!!

[white90dx]

If you notice the motor running cooler (on the temp gauge) you need to replace your thermostat - it is stuck open. Even with the fans on constant, your motor should stay at the middle of the temp gauge.

That said, just head to a junkyard and cut off the connector and solder the good one on your harness... Currently though, the only harm you are doing is wearing out your fans.

-Charlie

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by white90dx

If you notice the motor running cooler (on the temp gauge) you need to replace your thermostat - it is stuck open. Even with the fans on constant, your motor should stay at the middle of the temp gauge.

That said, just head to a junkyard and cut off the connector and solder the good one on your harness... Currently though, the only harm you are doing is wearing out your fans.

-Charlie

His thermostat is probably fine. The engine is running cooler because with the fans on all the time from a cold start, the engine is never reaching operating temperature. There is some harm to this, aside form wasting fuel. The car is running a richer mixture than it would be at normal operating temperature. This is causing the cat converter to work harder than normal. It's OK to run like this for a short time, but eventually the converter will be ruined. Get it fixed as soon as you can.

I do agree that a junkyard is your best source for a new connector.

Mike

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

His thermostat is probably fine. The engine is running cooler because with the fans on all the time from a cold start, the engine is never reaching operating temperature. There is some harm to this, aside form wasting fuel. The car is running a richer mixture than it would be at normal operating temperature. This is causing the cat converter to work harder than normal. It's OK to run like this for a short time, but eventually the converter will be ruined. Get it fixed as soon as you can.

I do agree that a junkyard is your best source for a new connector.

Mike

I do agree on the long-term harm of running the motor cooler than the designed operating temperature. I disagree about the thermostat being fine though.

For drag racing, I switch my fans on constantly (to help pull air through the AWIC heat exchanger and keep the engine bay cool) - my motor never cools off to the point of running cold. The needle might budge a smidge down, but it still runs near the thermostat set point. The water in the radiator itself stays quite cool though.

-Charlie

[stanno]

Mike, Charlie; Thanks for the responses... As for the thermostat... the temp gauge was always at the correct point up til the wire for the sensor fell off... It does run cooler... but not COLD... After the drive to work begins the needle pretty much gets up to right under the center mark of the gauge ... takes a bit longer than usual ... but it gets there. In the nights now... it stays a bit lower... and hardly goes up to the half mark... I took both your advices and i'm gonna seek it at a junkyard...

- Stanno