Temp Gauge - What Color Wire in Engine Bay?

[Quarterwave]

Hi everyone,

I have an aftermarket 4-core radiator and the temp gauge is not working (it was before the change).

What color wire do I need to be looking for in the engine bay so that I can find the temp sender?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Coolant sender for a 351 H.O. should be a red/white wire.

I'm getting this from the '86 EVTM here:  http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/1986-evtm.html
(FUEL TANK SELECTOR/GAUGES-----F150-350 7.5L & 5.8L 4V engine)

But Ford was good about keeping their harness colors the same across a wide range.

[Rembrant]

Quarterwave wrote

What color wire do I need to be looking for in the engine bay so that I can find the temp sender?

Hey Quarter,

The temp sender is right behind the distributor, with one wire going to it. (My '84 302 appears to be a red wire...not sure if it's striped or not...I couldn't see it well with only one coffee in me...lol).



PS: If by chance you find that the sender is bad, they are still available directly from Ford. I bought one this past winter but haven't installed it yet. I have an aftermarket sender in there now but it doesn't read properly.

[ArdWrknTrk]

If you need to go to an auto parts store, be sure you get a -sender- not a sensor.
There is a difference!
Sender is for the gauge, sensor is for the computer's cold engine indication. (I know you don't have one)
I've never hooked them both up to meters and brought them to a boil, so I don't know their full resistance ranges.

I'm sure Gary has a Ford p/n for the sender, but I'm on a phone, and although I DO have the HiPo MPC on CD I don't have a way to read it right now.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

Cory,

If you have time, could you picture the end of the box with the part numbers clearly visible?

Thanks, Jim

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Cory,

If you have time, could you picture the end of the box with the part numbers clearly visible?

Thanks, Jim

Yes, no problem, but it won't be until tonight when I get back home.

The aftermarket sender I installed works, it's just that the scaling seems to be a bit off. The gauge now reads higher than it is supposed to. I would have re-installed my original sender, but I sold my carb/intake and the sender went with it. I bought the new Ford sender hoping it provides a better range for the gauge...but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. Dealing with 3400 lbs of rust has put things like temp gauge senders at the bottom of my priority list...lol.

[Gary Lewis]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I'm sure Gary has a Ford p/n for the sender...

From Electrical/Sending Units and the Coolant tab:

[ArdWrknTrk]

And this is indicative of *how much* of this site I still need to learn.  

[Gary Lewis]

'Tis easy for me - I put it there.

[85lebaront2]

I have never checked the resistance on the gauge sender, but as far as the EFI sensor, I believe I sent Gary that information along with the values for the other sensors TPS, EVP etc.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Bill,

It's likely that the gauge range is similar or same as the other gauges, like fuel.
So perhaps the sender range is 10-65(?)
I forget, because I have the Bricknose gauges.

[Gary Lewis]

Should be 10 to 72.

[ArdWrknTrk]

The more I learn....

So, same for fuel and temp?

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, same resistance range for fuel, water temp, and oil pressure.

[85lebaront2]

Yes, and the gauge system on the Bullnose goes clear back into the 40s when they were 6 volt systems.

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

If you have time, could you picture the end of the box with the part numbers clearly visible?

Here we go. Still available from your local Ford dealer. I ordered this one last fall I believe, but haven't gotten around to installing it yet (truck hasn't been running in 8 months). I have a new aftermarket one installed currently, and it works, it just seems that the scale is off slightly...as in the gauge reads on the hotter side of the range all the time when the actual engine temp is just normal...like 195F. I am hoping the Ford sender fixes that for me.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Funny, the van diesel has a different part number.
Must be a really tight fit in there.

**** Note the green insulator, as mentioned in the parts listing****
Anyway Motorcraft parts ftw!

(Yes, autocorrect DID try to trip me up with Vin Diesel!  )

[Quarterwave]

You guys are awesome, thanks!

[Quarterwave]

What sealant should I use on the threads (if any)?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Orange sealant is already applied!

The sender works by grounding to the engine, you don't want it insulated with Teflon tape or silicone