Temperature sender for SW gauges anyone.....

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...In my bid to rectify my overheating problems i need to find the correct temperature sender for mine..But ive searched high and low and cannot even find a gauge thats similar let alone a sender for it...Would anyone have a clue as to what one i would need please..Many thanks..ziga
1982 280i..

[mrzigazaga]

Ive been trying all morning to find a sender and cannot find one...I guess i will have to replace the gauge with something else..I was looking at VDO water temp gauge from merlin..Would something like that work..I need something that will basically just plug in..Any other suggestions welcome..Thanks ..Ziga

[ROOODBOY]

Why do you need a new sender / gauge anyway?

What's wrong with yours?

[pjtvr390se]

Hi Zig,
I built a kit car a few years ago and had no end of problems with the water temperature gauge showing the engine was overheating when the truth was it was ok.
My problem turned out to be that the voltage stabiliser unit supplying the gauges did not have a good earth so was reading all over the place.
Having fixed the earth I then found that the unit itself was faulty and ended up replacing it. I have attached a link that might be of use to you. Not quite plug and play but not that hard!

http://www.ken555.plus.com/gtm/regulator-conversio...

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate...Its reading 280 which is the max and its not that hot..I used the wrong sender with it and now cant find anyone who sells them anymore..
My overheating issues could be related to the radiator as when i leave my heater on hot it is effectively acting like a second rad and helping to cool and thats probably why i didnt lose any coolant when i left yours the other day but did when it was off when i pulled up..i need to look into the rad to see if there are any bogiefied crustations in there which would suggest the rad is blocked...If my gauge was working i would be able to see the temperature rise and then fall if the thermostat was playing up...
I have found someone to recore it for under £100 but obviously dont want to plough more money into it unless i know for sure...Especially as i might be getting rid...I dont want to sell it with this issue either...Cheers..Ziga

[Campbell]

Your between a rock and a hard place Zig, sounds like you want to get to the bottom of this and if that means getting the rad recored then thats a ster you will have to cop up for, is there not a sheet of resistances for given temps of the engine for the temp sensor, i know there is one for the V8, it would be worth looking at the output to see if it tallies up first...
Just wondering if the V6 has 2 temp sensors like the V8, one for the ECU one for the dash....Is the V6 mechanical injection........

May be some one else with a V6 can take a resistance reading when the car is cold and running at normal temp and let you know what it is to check against your.
Do you have any other signs of over heating or are you looking for that reasurance that its ok with all the other stuff you have already been through....

Im sure you will get it sorted soon Zig...

Oh plus over 2000 plus post is a short time you need more of a life pal

Cambelt

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks campbell..I have used a probe thermometer and the temperature peeks out at around 187 Degrees C and the fan kicks in at 181-184 which is what temperature the thermostat opens at..Whethers its a short journey or a 30 mile one the moment i stop or turn it off the coolant gets chucked out of the header tank into the catch tank and then all over the floor..On sunday i went up to see rooodboy as he was fixing my wheel bearing and when i pulled up and turned off i lost all the coolant out of the header tank and about a 5th out of the rad..Before i went home i topped up and put the heater on hot and left it on until i got home and i didnt lose any coolant..Which i beleive suggests that its either the rad that is blocked or the thermostat is being a lazy bastid..I know the gauge is well out as i have checked it when it is reading 280 and its only 180-185..I had this happen a while back after the system was flushed which could of pushed any sludge up into the rad so i might just need pressure cleaning...At worst a re-core..It did settle down for a while but then started doing again recently..
I guess i am a sado..i got loads of things i should be doing but keep putting them off..Still what would you all do if i suddenly stopped posting..You would think i have either sorted my car..Sold it and give up on the idea..Not paid my broadband bill..Or snuffed it..