Engine temp gauge

[GMPartsGuy]

Posted - November 23 2004 : 12:02:18 AM
Well, here's the problem, and what I've done so far: My 92 Ty engine temp gauge has always read low. (Or what I feel is low.) When I first got the truck, the temp gauge would NEVER even move off of rock bottom. When I was doing a bunch of tuning up and maintenance, I took the thermostat out and found it was a 160. I replaced it with a stock 195 thermostat, (since there are NO mods at all) and then the gauge would barely come up off the bottom mark when it was all warmed up. So then I replaced the sending unit, now the gauge will come up to the first mark when it's all warmed up. Well, not the FIRST mark, cause that's the bottom one! I guess you'd say the first mark up from the bottom. So anyway, I had the opportunity to exchange out the instrument cluster for CHEAP this week, so I did it. (The trip odometer didn't work either) Well, the gauge on the new cluster does the same thing. I'm about ready to try another sending unit....I'm thinking the new one I put in is defective. Now my question to all of you is: Where does your gauge sit when it's all warmed up? And when you reply, PLEASE tell what temp thermostat you have, (160, 180, 195, etc) so I can get an idea of where each one sits on the gauge. I'm most interested in the guys with a stock 195 thermostat. Thanks in advance!

 

[Syclone Rob]

I still have a stock sy (as far as I know my thermostat is a 195!) and my temp needle moves maybe 2-3 mm off the rest needle, barely moves.


Rob

 

[bezerk]

Re: Engine temp gauge

Posted - November 23 2004 : 12:02:18 AM
Well, here's the problem, and what I've done so far: My 92 Ty engine temp gauge has always read low. (Or what I feel is low.) When I first got the truck, the temp gauge would NEVER even move off of rock bottom. When I was doing a bunch of tuning up and maintenance, I took the thermostat out and found it was a 160. I replaced it with a stock 195 thermostat, (since there are NO mods at all) and then the gauge would barely come up off the bottom mark when it was all warmed up. So then I replaced the sending unit, now the gauge will come up to the first mark when it's all warmed up. Well, not the FIRST mark, cause that's the bottom one! I guess you'd say the first mark up from the bottom. So anyway, I had the opportunity to exchange out the instrument cluster for CHEAP this week, so I did it. (The trip odometer didn't work either) Well, the gauge on the new cluster does the same thing. I'm about ready to try another sending unit....I'm thinking the new one I put in is defective. Now my question to all of you is: Where does your gauge sit when it's all warmed up? And when you reply, PLEASE tell what temp thermostat you have, (160, 180, 195, etc) so I can get an idea of where each one sits on the gauge. I'm most interested in the guys with a stock 195 thermostat. Thanks in advance!

the stock gauge is crap, it''s inaccurate, you got DM?

 

[GMPartsGuy]

I got nothin except the stock Ty. DM is Data Master, right? A scanner program you use with a laptop?

 

[Ty0279]

I got nothin except the stock Ty. DM is Data Master, right? A scanner program you use with a laptop?

Yes.

Where is Gresham? Maybe someone in Oregon, WA or N. Cal can help you out and hook up DM to your truck. If nobody's around, you could always come to the next NWSTP meet.

 

[jwaller]

I have 5 syty sitting here in my shop all have 160's and none of the stock temps gauges hardly ever move off the bottom. FWIW I have seen 1 typhoon that the gauge worked correctly and it scared the crap outta me when I saw it moving that high. I stopped plugged in the laptap and was thinking I was about to fry the motor.

 

[GM TURBO]

Weird - my gauge reads pretty damned close to DM. I thought it was only the boost, voltage and oil pressure gauges that suck

 

[Tydriver]

FWIW, there are 2 temp sensors, the one in the head is for the gauge cluster, the one in the water passage in the intake manifold is for the ECM.

Try changing out BOTH if you get a chance, they ARE different senders..

 

[InvisiBill]

The stock gauge is marked 100-260, which should put the middle line at 180. With the stock thermostat, it would get about 3/8 of the way up (halfway between 1/4 and 1/2). With the 180, it's pretty much at the 1/4 line. With a 160, it was about halfway up to the 1/4 line. Essentially my gauge reads 40 below the actual temperature. It's very inaccurate as far as getting a number reading, but it does seem to be precise enough that I can tell if it's hotter or colder than before.

 

[odium]

Hey, this is Ben from the Washington meet. My trip odometer just stopped working this weekend too... PM me about that cheap opportunity.

My temp gauge reads about 2 mm above the very first notch with a 160 thermo.

 

[Zewerr@hotmail.com]

I just bought my Sy a month ago. I thought the exact same thing as you. I bought a new thermostat (195) and threw it in to find out that I had a 160 in. and just like yours, it climbed alittle but not much. Mine now floats just below that quarter line. So yep, they suck!