Last year the water temperature sensor on my 4x4 sapph broke off and I replaced it with a new one from MSD. Ever since my temperature gauge is reading much higher than it used to. If I remember correctly it used to sit right in the middle. But now it sits like this.



I get a bit nervous from the high reading, although the actual temperature probably hasn't changed. Should I change the thermostat or the sensor again?

 

Did you change the way you fixed on the wire?

I once fitted the wire (ring connector), to the sensor with a nut either side of it, and it seemed to have the that effect !
When I took it off, slid the connector back on with a single nut holding it on it went back to normal.

 

No, that's exactly the same, just the plug pushed onto the sensor.

 

Mine is the same since changing the sensors on mine. I thought something was wrong but my engine never runs to hot and I have got used to the temp gauge reading higher than it used to. Nothing to worry about.

 

Mins the same mate with a sensor from msd.

 

It's nice to hear it's 'normal', but it's not really what I would have expected from a new sensor from MSD. As I would like to have the gauge sit in the middle. This way i'm not sure anymore when it would be too hot.

 

im not confident with these after market sensors,my cts broke after about 50 miles.

 

The new senders seem to do this.

Martin

 

Hi silly question did you check the new one was the same colour as the old one ? just had this prob on my 24v cosy engine , it seems they colour coded !

 

I got mine from MSD as well and before the new one was fitted my temp gauge never went higher than half way ,but I was told it was reading to low and by the time if there was an overheating situation the gauge started to go right up it could already have overcooked the engine.
My fans thermostat has been checked and the fans cut in when they should to cool it down if stuck in traffic etc on a hot day so I am not worried. Mine always stays in the top half like shown in the photo so if it started to go higher than that I would realise there was a problem.
Its not what you or me would really want but I have accepted it now and I have had no overheating problems since it was put in nearly 2 years ago.

 

Hi Marc,

Had the same years ago. My sensor broke on the highway given a reading of 'hot' on my gauge. Went to the Ford garage and ordered a new one. Then my reading was as high as yours now. It seemed to be in the coloured ring of the sensor. Then vary from colour. If I recall correct original mine had a red ring and Ford delivered a sensor that looked like it, but that one didnt give the right output. The part came from their TIS sheets searching for a cosworth.
After going back they saw there was more than one option for the sensor. I ordered a new one with the same coloured ring as original and than the gauge read normal.

So no worries!

 

Hi Wim,

Long time I've seen you online. You haven't been on any Dutch forums lately?

Hearing that it can indeed be correct again I really want to have the correct sensor in there. Now the question is only, how do I find out what the correct sensor is... To be honest I'm a bit disappointed that MSD didn't supply the correct one. I especially ordered it there thinking I would get a reliable and correct sensor.

 

I tried 2 different ones but it made no difference . They must have changed something from the original Ford one for some reason.My original Ford one had been on my engine for 20 years!

 

One and a half week ago I send an email to MSD to ask why their sender doesn't give the correct reading, while the correct one should be available. After one week I didn't receive an answer, so I sent my question again the beginning of this week. But again no reply yet...

 

Marc this is one of those things where there doesnt seem to be a definite answer. Like you and probably many others we have changed the temperature sensors and now the water temperature reading is higher than with the original Ford sensors fitted at the factory. I have been assured it is nothing to worry about have got used to it now.
I do not have any overheating issues and the engine runs as it should.

 

I understand the engine will run as it should and will not overheat because of just this sender, as it's only connected to the gauge. But it is not how it should be, and like YBJ I would like to have the correct sender in there. If that sender is no longer available I can understand that this could be the best alternative. But according to YBJ the correct sender should be available and in that case it is simply a case of supplying an incorrect sender.


You could say I shouldn't make a point out of this. But I have another Sierra on which the gauge sits as how it's supposed to be. And every time I drive the cosworth and look at the gauge my first thought is that it is going to overheat, which is really annoying.

 

i had the same problem when i fitted a new sensor on my saph - hast bothered me lately as the car has been buried in the garage for over 3 years

 

If you any luck finding one that sorts it out let us know as I would if given the choice prefer it to read like it used to , only half way up on the temperature gauge.

 

They are a simple resistance based sensor, so if somebody wants to run a car up and measure the resistance, we could try and find a sensor that would keep them in the middle of the gauge I'm sure.

Id say the normal centre line of the gauge would be around 85 degrees , as the stat will open between 82-88, if we can get a resistance figure of a sensor sitting in the gauge centre there we could try and find the closest to it.

My Esc Cos used to sit too high with the black banded sensor in it, so i used the green banded sensor which gave a better result.

 

mine runs below half way.

 

What colour band does your sensor have and where did you get it please?

 

I just emailed MSD again on a different email address and got a prompt reply from Stu (perhaps the old email address I had was no longer used).

This is his reply:
"This isn’t an issue we have experienced and we have been fitting the same one for many years and they always sit somewhere between the top and bottom of the “O”.

Some Cosworth’s did ship with a different temp gauge and that one had a different colour band if I remember correctly. Yours may be one of those.
If that’s the case it would be worth calling Ford and asking if the still sell them.

If you wish to send it back, please feel free, but pop a note in explaining why so the sales guys can log it."

After that I rang my Ford dealer and the parts guy (who is always very helpful) thought he remembered it used to be a black or green ring on the sender. Now need to find out which one it is exactly.

 

Maybe this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Ford-S...sAAOSwpzdWrQ1V

 

Maybe, but could as well again be the wrong one. Which colour does yours have Wim?

 

Mine does this too after a replacement was fitted! Would be nice to get the right one!

 

I have a sender from msd also,I've done 150 miles in mine today and the gauge has sat steady just like the photo at the top,ecu monitor was showing 70 degree's.

 

Mine does and always has sat at about quarter of the way up just above line and below the M

 

I have just ordered one, will let you know if it makes any difference to the temp gauge reading when I fit it.

 

I have fitted it today and it HAS made a difference! It now sits just above half way not three quarters of the way up like it was. Definitely better than before so I would say for the cheap cost get one and try it yourself.

 

Do you have a picture of how it sits now? And which colour ring does it have?

 

It sits at the top of the R just below the O, just above half way. Black ring same as the one I took out but this one must have a different resistance.

 

That is indeed how it should be.

 

Have you tried one in your car yet Marc?

 

No not yet. I asked the dealer, but it costs 53 euros there. And shipment to Holland from that eBay one was twice the price of the sender itself.

 

Hi Marc the part is £3.95p and if the postage to Holland is another £3.95p its still pretty cheap to get the right part. Been out in mine today and still working as it should, I am very pleased with it.

 

I got a reply from the ebay seller that shipping to Holland was £12,51

 

Hi Marc, I recently sent a chrome metal ignition amplifier bracket to a guy who lives in Zeewolde and it was quite heavy. It cost me £5.95p only so I reckon the tiny little temp sensor would only be £2.00 at the most.
If you want I can get you the temp sensor and post it to you. £12.51 seems way to much to me for the postage.
Cheers Richard.

 

I figured it must be much cheaper than £12.51 to send so I guess he just wanted to get rid of me as a customer.

Anyway, if you could send one that would be great! How much will the total postage be then? Btw, you can reply in PM.

 

PM sent Marc.

 

That's me . Richard is the man if you want this part Marc!