Temperature Sender

[big col]

hi again everyone...as you can see from my last post, i am having problems with my temp' sender...i have just fitted a new sender and thermostat and the guage still doesn't move.the 'stat is working perfectly.

i have tried many different actions and have heeded all advice...my car is a 1997 escort ghia x 1.8

this question is gonna sound totally stupid!!, but when i screwed the new temp' sender in,i screwed it in exactly the way the old one was in...what i mean is, the old sender had about a 1/4 inch of thread still visible, so i screwed the new one in the same way...i am getting a little leakage from the new one, so it seems logical to me that i need to screw it in all the way.....however, i am afraid of going too far and risking cracking something!...i know this question sounds totally dumb!!, but i would rather know beforehand,and save a big bill for repairs.

so, in short....should i screw the temp' sender in fully?.

thanks in advance guys.

col

[jay1981]

I think you would be pretty safe to tighten it up, without breaking anything. Your more likely to break the sensor than anything else. Just don't go mad.

Your problem with the temp gauge sounds like the instrument panel or wiring problem. Have you tried touching the sender wire against a good earth, with the ignition on? Does the temp gauge go up to the red? Does your fuel gauge work?

[big col]

I think you would be pretty safe to tighten it up, without breaking anything. Your more likely to break the sensor than anything else. Just don't go mad.

Your problem with the temp gauge sounds like the instrument panel or wiring problem. Have you tried touching the sender wire against a good earth, with the ignition on? Does the temp gauge go up to the red? Does your fuel gauge work?

hi jay, many thanks for your reply...i have tightened the sender as tight as i dare go and there is no further leakage as yet....as regards anything on the electrical front...i dont even wanna go there!..i am no expert on anything electrical, and would probably end up electocuting myself! .

i have called my mechanic,and he is coming up on wednesday morning to run a diagnostic on it...i think that it can only be a couple of possible things...as you said, electrical or the guage.

the guage works, but it never moves much,and i cannot remember it ever getting into the "normal" area.

many thanks again jay for your help and advice.. i appreciate it.

col

[jay1981]

If your temp gauge moves, then that pretty much rules out a break in the wire from the temp sender to the instrument cluster. I think that your temp gauge is pretty normal really. I have had 2 Escorts, and the temp gauge never went past the N of normal, when warmed up. The thermostat suck closed on one and the temp gauge went right up so it did work.

You might have a sticky gauge if it dosen't reach the normal bit. You say the thermostat has been changed?

[big col]

If your temp gauge moves, then that pretty much rules out a break in the wire from the temp sender to the instrument cluster. I think that your temp gauge is pretty normal really. I have had 2 Escorts, and the temp gauge never went past the N of normal, when warmed up. The thermostat suck closed on one and the temp gauge went right up so it did work.

You might have a sticky gauge if it dosen't reach the normal bit. You say the thermostat has been changed?

yes sir...i had a brand new one put in last tuesday, it is working perfectly..the hose coming from the stat housing is nice and hot..my mechanic fitted it...when he removed the old stat,he said that it was closed.