Temp Sender

[Graham_R]

Hi Guys

Just a quick call for help for my '96 4.0 HC Chimp. My Temp guage has started yo-yoing from about 60 to 80 C I'm guessing it's a dirty Contact, unless you know otherwise.

Anyway I know this sounds stupid, but I can't find the sender to check the contacts, could someone point me in the right direction.

Idiot/blindmans guides always appreciated.

Regards

Graham

[PeterC]

When did you last check coolant levels? You can sometimes get strange temperature readings with an airlock in the system as the temp sender is designed to be immersed in liquid not hot air.

Go check it now just in case. Squeeze by hand some of the big robber hoses to check that there is coolant in them.

Warning: Do not go squeezing pipes with engine running and lose fingers in the fanbelt or when the engine is hot as this burns the figures.

[Quicksilver]

check my thread in the Griff forum re temperature gauge - ended up being very simple - just a top up of coolant to ensure no airlocks. I learned a very important lesson without any damage to my Griff thanks to PH

[Graham_R]

Thanks guys I'll have a look now.

Regards

Gray

[Graham_R]

Ok I've checked and the levels in the swirl pot and the Expansion pot seem fine.

I was sure it was this, as I've resently fitted a new Rad, and a few pipes.

Could it be air trapped near the sender, anyone any more ideas.

OBTW I still don't know where the sender is.

Regards

Gray

[david beer]

It should be behind the distributor, pointing forward and has a single wire going to it. Mine went a couple of years ago, similar signs.

[GreenV8S]

Its scrwed into the top/front of the inlet manifold. Look just behind and to the left of the dizzy and you will be in the right area. The sensors screw directly into the casting, but there are several alternative positions on the casting so the exact position can vary from car to car. You will probably find two temp sensors, one with a nice latching connector is connected to the ECU and the other with a plain wire connected to a stud drives the temp gauge.

[Graham_R]

Thanks Guys

I'm glad at least one person has had similar troubles, all I have to do now is change it, and it looks like a pig of a job to get to. Then a 10 second job to swap for a new one.

Cheers for all the advice.

Gray

[frankgilbert]

The sender or otter switch is on an alumimium canister behind the radiator lhs from drivers seat.Its about 12""high &4" across. The otter switch has a brass hexagonal nut on it pointing towards the engine. Only work on it when its cold -Otter switches cost about £9 new from TVR DEALERS.a SIMPLE IN AND OUT JOB BUT YOU`LL LOSS SOME COOLANT.

[david beer]

The "otter" and "temp sender" are two different things. If the sender is dicky and you have a serp engine you can just use the spare sender on top of the head, i have for the past two years.

[Graham_R]

So where is this 'Spare' sender? I've got a Serp engine but didn't see anything like a disconected sender while searching for the connected one.

Regards

Gray

[david beer]

The spare sender is on top of the head, at the front, next to the ECU temp sender which has a two wire posh water proof connection. It has a round 4mm terminal. I suppose there is a chance it has been blanked off, if its not there.