Temp sensor... HELP meh's out
 

hey guys, I'm in need of your help desperately.

My oem temperature gauge isn't working correctly due to some previous owner mistakes messing around with the gauge cluster, but I need to make a trip home for xmas. I don't dare drive on the freeway for a long trip without a temp gauge..

So I was thinking I could just hook up my voltmeter to the temp sender wire and monitor the volts. I tried this and I'm getting voltage readings anywhere from 10 volts down to 6.5 as it warms up, and then I jump my fan switch and turn on my fan and it'll climb back up to 10 volts again.

I was wondering if anybody knows what temperature these volts are equivalent to?

Also how can I fix my fan switch. It doesn't come on by itself, but if I jump the postive wire to 12v it'll turn on.. what could be the causes of this?

thanks for your help guys.. I need answers asap cause I gotta head out for home tomorrow. 6 hour drive owns meh.

maybe a couple really really cool and helpful people (thats you ;) ) could even go test on their own vehicles to see what it reads at normal operating temp.. I just need a general idea. and don't want to wire up an aftermarket gauge just for the christmas break and waste my money

Not to insalt your intelligence or anything.. but are you sure that you don't just need to replace your thermostat?

gauge's needle is literally broken, not just not moving..

but new thermostat anyways.

I tested a friends ls teg, and at full temp his read 6.2 volts.. can someone else check just to be sure for me?

So... the EJ and EG clusters are pretty much the same?
I had the same problem.....
Crap! I just realized my voltmeter is in storage, but it sounds like you are ok to me. I say trust in your equipment. It should be fine.

The temp sensor might be a current source.

I don't think you guys understand my problem lol....


when I hook up a voltmeter to the one wire coming from my temp sensor that goes to my gauge, I get readings from 10-6 volts depending on how hot the car is.. when its warm it reads lower.

I was hoping someone could go test their car and see what it reads when it is hot, so I know what volts = full operating temp.

I'm pretty sure that 6.1-6.2 is full operating temp because I tested my friends car and thats what we were getting

I'm assuming you have an EG....

ground the orange wire from the temp switch, if the fan comes on you need to replace the temp switch. The temp switch is located in front of the thermostat housing with two wires running off it. (black and orange)
If the fan does not turn on replace the fan relay in the under hood fuse box.

the manual states that there is 142ohms at cold engine, and 49-32 ohms with warm engine.
Since the gauge supplies voltage to the sender the only way to know what voltages are right is to get someone to actually pull apart their car for you and measure it. Sorry man it's 21* here (6* with wind) or I'd do it for you.

BTW if you're over 35mph you don't want the fan to run.