I have a water temp gauge fitted but want to change it to another one, is it just a matter of swapping them over using the previouse wiring or would it not be accurate?

i dont think you can just remove the existing temp sensor & put your aftermarket in place.

 

the standard temp sensor wiring goes to the ECU. if the temp is wrong then, itl cause the ECU to go nuts and overfuel etc etc.

 

you have to keep the standard one where is, and put your aftermarket one with its own wiring somewhere else.

 

usually goes in the rubber pipe from the rad, using a temp sensor adapter spliced in :)

i dont think you can just remove the existing temp sensor & put your aftermarket in place.

 

the standard temp sensor wiring goes to the ECU. if the temp is wrong then, itl cause the ECU to go nuts and overfuel etc etc.

 

you have to keep the standard one where is, and put your aftermarket one with its own wiring somewhere else.

 

usually goes in the rubber pipe from the rad, using a temp sensor adapter spliced in :)

 

I think he meant he already has an aftermarket guage and wants to swap it for another one but used the sender that's already there.

If it is what Shrek has said then yes the original sender should be fine! Wiring into the back of the Gauges may need to be chopped as could have differ plugs into the gauge but only cutting and re-wiring no biggie!

I think he meant he already has an aftermarket guage and wants to swap it for another one but used the sender that's already there.

 

Yes this is what I meant, so its just a matter of chopping the wires to fit the back of the new gauge?

Yes this is what I meant, so its just a matter of chopping the wires to fit the back of the new gauge?

 

As Far as i know this will be your only potential Problem :)

Leigh, if the reason you are swapping it out is because the gauge is not reading correctly or fluctuating when warm, I would recommend that you also swap the sender unit that you should get with the new gauge.

 

Most of the guages will have the same wiring format and consist of 3 or 4 wires as follows:

 

Ignition Live

Earth

Sender unit

Dimmer (i.e. dims the backing light of the gauge when you turn your side lights on).

 

The dimmer wire is the optional wire that not all gauges will have. The existing wire from live and earth can be used and the sender wire can be kept in place and just reconnected at both ends to the new guage and the new sender unit.

 

You will usualy find that if there is a fault with the gauge but the needle still moved then it's the sender unit that is at fault.

 

Possible causes for fault or incorrect reading relating to the sender could be.

 

Air lock in the water system preventing contact between sensor and water. If the gauge comes to life when the car hits a bump or going up or down a steep hill, then this is most likely the case.

 

Incorrect earth connection on the housing of the sendor unit. This will make the sensor flick betweeen the actual reading and a much higher incorrect reading.

 

Wire fault from sender to Gauge. A kink in the wire or exposure to the core of the wire causing it to earth out on in the engine bay or the firewall will cause fluctuation of the reading. Another fault could be that if it is running alongside a strong power current, this would also cause a flucuation of the sensor.

 

Sensor failure, this will usually give you no reading at all.

Cheers stu, I havnt really noticed a problem with the old gauge, ive just got a better gauge to fit in.

In that case you can use the existing wiring loom and just replace the sender and gauge. At the gauge end inside the car the connections are all done using red bullet connectors so you can just unplug the existing gauge while leaving the loom in place. You will then just need to fit a few more female bullets to the new wire loom and plug them in. (remember what colour went to what wire :) )