Hi guys, can you give me some feedback on where your Sapphire temperature gauge sits when you are out driving your car? I have got the cooler 82 degree thermostat, high flow /capacity alloy radiator and new temp gauge sender and coolant sensor fitted but my temp gauge sits up on the O of the normal scale. It is off putting as I keep thinking the engine is overheating but it seems all ok. I have had a new engine loom and new fan loom and the fans kick in ok if you are stuck in traffic etc. It is baffling me as before with the old loom the gauge would rarely go up higher than half way.
The car has done 104,320 miles with the original Ford temperature gauge, has anyone heard of them playing up?

 

The temp senders are not all calibrated the same, a friend of mine had this problem a while ago, new sensor meant his car was running hot all the time, changed it for another new one and it went back to normal again. I suspect in your case it's probably just the fact you have a new loom and an old sensor, if it's not overheating then nothing to worry about!

 

Every temp sender has it own colour ring and it stays for the resistance, so you have to replace it with the same colour. Mine is in the middle and on hot days or long Vmax just before the red area but then the fans cool it down again just before centre position. With an uprated rad and fan kit it will stay more stable on centre position after staying in traffic or abusing it etc. But would run a 92 °C thermostat then cause overcooling is more dangerous for the engine then a bit upper average temp. it means less fuel consumption and less engine wear.

 

Is this after a coolant change ..seen alot saphs airlock after thermostat replacements

 

The temperature gauge was reading the same before and after the new thermostat was put in. I have changed all the engine sensors a while back and I have just put in a new temp gauge sensor but that didnt make any difference. The car is running fine and the engine does not seem to get overheated, it is just off-putting seeing the temp gauge up so high on the scale. The fans cut in ok if I am stuck in traffic so it is a mystery to me.

 

Normally i drill a 3mm pilot hole in the stat ..aids cooling , helps prevent air locking and assists with bleeding

 

Thanks for the tip Carl.

 

Works a treat

 

You are not alone, and I have been even worse, having changed 3 gauge sensors from different supplies (MSD and Burton), the last one from Burton worked.

FYI, I also got 82' thermostat with hole drilled like Carl suggested, AIRTEC radiator, new MSD fan loom and all round new sensors.

Now my fans kicks in at the position shown on the below left photo and will cool it down to the position shown on the below right photo.



However, I think it's also worth mentioning that my temp gauge readings resumed what I think "normal" having replaced Ford genuine coolant. Not sure if this is relevant, but coincidentally the temperature went down a lot after making this move AND replacing the 3rd new temp gauge sensor that I brought.

 

I don't see why you would need to drill a hole, that pre dates the jiggle pin that eliminated the need for it.

The gauges on these aren't that accurate, mine sites between the 'M' to 'R' under normal conditions.

There are but problems with the senders in more recent times where they are not the correct type, which is what results in the gauge "reading" higher.

You need a capillary gauge, if you want accurate info.

Martin

 

The thermostat with hole drilled was donated by Carl from UK, I'm in HK where weather is a lot warmer than in the UK. It worked pretty well.

I replaced the gauge sender as mine was cracked (for unknown reason, maybe too old). I remember my car had temperature readings sits between the 'M' to 'R' under normal conditions so I agree the senders in more recent times are probably not the correct type (as the case maybe), but nothing much I can do as I already brought from reputable suppliers i.e. MSD and Burton.

We did thermos gun test on the thermostat housing and radiators during operation, all seems normal and no signs of overheat.

Seems I just have to accept it haha.

 

Hi Martin

Do you mind sharing your temp gauge readings for both highest and lowest for my reference when you have a moment.

Many thanks!

 

The follow up to my original thread was in the end I bought some original Ford temp sensors from a guy (not a dealer) who had some brand new . They fixed the problem and I also sent some to other owners who were also having problems and it worked for them as well.

 

Hi, so at the end the problem was resolved by using genuine Ford gauge sensors? Not OEM ones?

Are you able to provide pictures for both highest and lowest temp readings when you have a moment? I want it for reference.

Secondly, are you able to provide sources in getting those sensors or if you still have a few (maybe 1 or 2) that you can supply?

Many thanks!

 

Looking at your photos the temp gauge readings you are getting look fine so I am not really sure what you are worried about. Mine was reading much higher up the scale before I fitted the new sensor.I still have some of the original Ford ones if you want one but I don't think it will be any different to what you have already fitted.

 

Hi, I'm not worrying and I know the car's temperature is running normally having done thermos gun tests in all round several times, it's just the gauge readings a bit annoying.

As mentioned, I had fitted 3 sensors supplied by MSD and Burton, the first one from MSD was reading at very high scale and sits between the 'Redline' to 'N' under normal conditions.

The second one from Burton was reading slightly lower and sits between the 'N' to 'O' under normal conditions.

The last one, however, also from Burton was reading lower and sits between the 'O' to 'R' under normal conditions.

Few guys here mentioned the gauge sensors in more recent times are not all calibrated the same OR are probably not the correct type, which results in the gauge "reading" higher. On this part I'm afraid I'm quite agree with this assumption as neither of those 3 sensors are original Ford, yet this is what I'd like to resolve by using an original Ford sensor.

If you are happy to supply your spares, please let me know.

Many thanks!

 

Hi Hidetoshi , I can send you 1 of the sensors but as I have already said the temp gauge readings you have look perfect. Mine was reading near the N all the time and on hot days even higher and I found the original sensor fixed my problem but you really have nothing to worry about.

 

Hi, would love to know after replacing the original sensor and under normal conditions, which positions does the reading sits between now? Will PM you regarding the supply for the sensors shortly

 

Mine sits between the R and O even on hot days.

 

Hi all, ive just been on a 30 mile trip out today...in standing traffic on the motorway and it was 19° outside, didn't go above "M" and as it sits in the pic the fans are running.

 

I would say for sure that is not reading right, way to low down on the scale of the gauge.I have had my Saff since 1995 and my temp gauge has never read that low. The problem could be for you if your engine did overheat it may still only read where it should be half way up the scale and before you realise something is wrong it could do damage. Your temp sensor is either the wrong one or the actual gauge has a fault IMO.

 

Its been higher when i first bought the car. Was hitting the top of the " R ".

Ive since changed to new hoses, 2 new fans, and running red antifreeze.

Sorry, i was showing the result of changing parts after high readings.

 

PMed you, thanks!

 

2wd Sapphire Cosworth temperature sensor

 

Buy a heat temp gun and read the water system and note when the thermostat opens and the fans kick in that will show whats what

 

Hi,
Just bought a Sierra.
my temperature gauge moves up and down as I drive. Reads up by the N if I’m idling and then goes straight down to the M when I’m driving. The needle moves very fast. I’ve never seen a temp gauge move so erratically.

what is strange is that even when I start the car from cold the temperature gauge goes straight up and moves up and down as I drive?

any suggestions on if this is a sensor problem and how to fix?

 

Hi, the cause is due to low voltage of the whole car electrical system (note that the temp gauge sensor is just a piece of variable resistor). Temp gauge display is base on the voltage readings after the sensor. Your alternator output could be weak (due to age). If you had the alternator replaced, then the cause can default to the wire that goes from the alternator to the battery. Consider replacing that so your car will restore full working voltage like when it left the factory. This will give more accurate readings not only to the Temp gauge but also other signaling of the car.

 

The sender is most likely at fault, it's very simple to replace and will cost a few pound.

I guess there are no signs of overheating?

Martin