water temp gauge

[2002_lincolnLS]

joe, thats what i have. Its mechanical because the gauge is not driven by an electric current. The gas in side the line expands and causes pressure which moves the dial. im not :q:q:q:qing stupid, i know there isn't a coolant line going to my dash.

 

[Frogman]

No one said you were "stupid". Uninformed, perhaps.

Autometer typically ships those gauges with 6' worth of tubing, will that be enough to run it from the front of the car to the gauge?

And I'm curious, why didn't you go electrical?

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

i didnt want to get into electrical sensors with it, this way i knew it was its own thing not getting into any of my other stuff and start throwing codes. i know hos sensitive these cars are to any electrical change, figuired this would be the way to go with it.

 

[Frogman]

Eh. I think you're worrying too much about it.

Hell, some of the LS guys are running thousands of amps worth of stereo gear and all is well. Long as you have a good direct (off the computer's radar so to speak) power source, the computer wouldn't care.

You'd be drawing at most one amp. Hardly a concern. But As long as it works for you, that's all that matters.

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

so i have the gauge, adapter, and sensor installed. but the gauge isnt reading any temp. its in the lover radiator hose, thats the corect hose right. no leaks either, im just not sure whats going on

 

[oddball]

so i have the gauge, adapter, and sensor installed. but the gauge isnt reading any temp. its in the lover radiator hose, thats the corect hose right. no leaks either, im just not sure whats going on

What's the lowest temp on the gauge?

Mechanical, right? Electrical will need to be grounded at the hose adapter. Mechanical does not.

Should be the upper hose, as that has the hot coolant from the engine. Lower hose has the cold coolant back into the engine, so you're measuring the effectiveness of the radiator. Good to know, but probably not what you want. Note that even in the upper hose it won't show anything until the thermo opens. So that usage will only show temps at and above the thermo open position which is 184 deg for us. This will NOT indicate a thermostat-broken-closed condition

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

yeah it shows a reading when i get on it so idk what ever its in so im not going to dick around with it.

 

[Frogman]

UPPER hose.

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

maybe if i can pick up a new lower hose ( the top part) pretty cheap i will change it over this week end, or i might not worry about it right now.