Water temp gauge MAXED OUT!!!HELP

[SeriousSN95]

Whats up guys, the other day I put in an auto meter electric water temp. gauge. I located the old water temp sensor at the head of the manifold and the new one with the gauge wouldnt fit. So i talked to a buddy up at Advanced and he told me just to leave the stock one in there, clip the wire and butt connect a new free wire through the boot and run the wire up to the new autometer gauge, so i did.I ran the ground and have a 12 volt power source to it. When i turn the car on not even a full minute BOOM straight to 250 it goes? i have had my car for over a year and its NEVER went past the middle of the stock gauge. Also, my car takes about 10 minutes to start warming up? I had to use thin wire because i didnt have any smaller bigger butt connecters and also no heat shrink . Could that be the problem? taht maybe the wires small thats its heated up wayyyy to fast? Please all opinions needed! i hate driving around not knowing my cars real temp. Thanks!:SNSign:

 

[95Mustang302]

you can't do that because the autometer sending unit is not the same as the ford sending unit, they read the temp through different resistances going through the sensor. So therefore your temp will not read correctly. Your best bet is to go buy a new waterkneck at autozone for like 15 dollars or so taht comes with a port to put in another sensor.

 

[Ozz]

Bad ground. Check it and fix it. Trust me

 

[94TURBO5 O]

Bad ground. Check it and fix it. Trust me

Yep

Your car will read around 220'ish if you have a stock thermostat.. These cars run hot and it's normal. My gauge reads 220 and my stock gauge reads right in the middle.
You can also relocate the sensor to you water neck but you'll have to buy a new on that will accomodate that sensor.
Good Luck

 

[95Mustang302]

maybe i'm reading this wrong, but according to what he said he just snipped the stock sending unit wire and hooked it up to the autometer gauge, how can that possibly work?

 

[94TURBO5 O]

maybe i'm reading this wrong, but according to what he said he just snipped the stock sending unit wire and hooked it up to the autometer gauge, how can that possibly work?

Derek

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT MAN!
I have no idea why I didn't catch that?

Yeah dude, there is no way that it's going to work that way. You need the actual autometer sensor that comes with the package and wire it up per the instructions.
Also go to that store and smack your guy that gave you that advice.

 

[SeventyMach1]

Also go to that store and smack your guy that gave you that advice.

LMAO!! I would do it ......

 

[95cobraguy]

you need an adapter fitting to make the sender work with the manifold. i know the thread in the manifold is 3/8 npt. i dont know what manifold your running but the temp reading needs to come from the front port.

 

[HISSIN50]

Agreed. Dont run two gauges from one sender and dont run the wrong gauge with another sender (they are not calibrated for eachother).
And dont put a Tee fitting in to accomodate both senders.

To keep the stock sender, I would get either the chrome Ford waterneck (that can leak for some folks) or the ugly cast version from the parts store (I run the latter) and relocate the stock sender there. That location kinda sucks because if your stat freezes closed, the gauge will not really tell you. The stock location is best so that's where the new gauge sender goes.

Most gauges come with an adapter fitting for a SBC, so grab the 3/8" one if you didnt get one.
The sender should be grounded pretty well in the lower intake. YOu can ohm it out to be sure.
My two cents.
Good luck.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

LMAO!! I would do it ......

I hate asking guyz questions in those stores. They just and then instead of being cool and say theyre not sure, they make up some just so they can "look" smart. Not cool
RC

 

[SeriousSN95]

thanks for all the post guys, i kinda figured the sendors wouldnt cooperate with each other! got the problems almost fixed guys. Also no im not using the stiock sendor wire, and yes my ground is perfect.