water temp gauge problem!

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Mychal
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:58 am
Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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ok so the water temp gauge on the dash goes up have way when the car warms up, no higher or lower, thats how my KA messed up bc i didnt know it was running hot until it was to late

why is it doin this? problem in the gauge itself?


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Justin35ll
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Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:57 pm
Car: s13 coupe sr20det

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That would be the operating temperature of the engine..

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DuckyD
Posts: 504
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:27 am
Car: 1995 240SX
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Do yourself a favor and get a water temperature gauge. I wouldn't rely on your gauge cluster for water temperature.

Prosport makes an $80 gauge that has a warning function and is dummy proof.

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Mychal
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Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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Justin35ll wrote:That would be the operating temperature of the engine..
no bcwhen i ran my KA hot it was still reading half

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Mychal
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Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:58 am
Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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i do have a glowshift temp gauge but im not sure how to hook it up

i was told to hook it up to the sensor but im thinkin the sensor is whats wrong with the dash gauge???

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DuckyD
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Car: 1995 240SX
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The stock gauge is not linear (at least from what I can tell).It goes cold --> normal --> hot --> boom.And not much warning in between.

At least with the Glowshift, you would have a second gauge that you might pay more attention to. For the sensor, you probably want one of these guys--> http://prosportgauges.com/wate....aspx and put the sensor in-line with the radiator hose. If you are confused about wiring, take it to an audio place and see if they will wire the gauge in for you.

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Mychal
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Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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thanks for the link, thats how i was gonna do it but i was wantin to hear some options

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Mychal
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:58 am
Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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oh yea but what size??

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OM3GA
Posts: 3041
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:41 pm
Car: A Sexy Mobile, 1993 Nissan 240sx 180sx Hatcher

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I'm going to be running a Yashio factory water temp gauge that plugs directly into the consult port, super simple and awesome imo.

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Mychal
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:58 am
Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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DuckyD wrote:The stock gauge is not linear (at least from what I can tell).It goes cold --> normal --> hot --> boom.And not much warning in between.

At least with the Glowshift, you would have a second gauge that you might pay more attention to. For the sensor, you probably want one of these guys--> http://prosportgauges.com/wate....aspx and put the sensor in-line with the radiator hose. If you are confused about wiring, take it to an audio place and see if they will wire the gauge in for you.
what size adapter?

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s13-t
Posts: 419
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:07 pm
Car: s13 pig nose w/blacktop sr20det

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get a water neck adapter. google it or look for it on ebay. It allows you to use the 1/8 npt on the sensor that comes with ur gauge

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Justin35ll
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Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:57 pm
Car: s13 coupe sr20det

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I got my adapter off enjuku. 25 bucks for the greddy. It says its 1/8th npt but it's not. It's the same pitch as the oil pressure sensor on the block. I forget what it is exactly but it's some british standard thread so I might have to use an adapter for it

IheartmySR
Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:22 pm
Car: 1991 240sx SR20DET

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I think you are being paranoid and I can understand that due to your last engine overheating. I wouldn't worry about the gauge and sensor though as long as they are both in working condition and at least the sensor is new. This is not a common problem so I doubt it will happen twice especially to the same person but in all possibilities it is possible. Make sure you have the right mixture of coolant/Distilled water and you should be set.

On my SR I do not have the best airflow through the radiator because of the 240sx s13 front-end design and also because of the gigantic FMIC which is bigger than the radiator itself but my temperature remains steady in traffic for instance when the car is simply just idling and no kind of air flow is occurring.

To make sure my car is not overheating I installed a dual fan setup which is relayed and starts with the ignition. electric fans are really necessary on Turbo cars in my opinion. They can be costly however although worth every penny. Good luck

My fan: http://www.eautoworks.com/prod...X.htm

S14toRPS13
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Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:11 pm
Location: Back to CA

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IheartmySR wrote:
To make sure my car is not overheating I installed a dual fan setup which is relayed and starts with the ignition. electric fans are really necessary on Turbo cars in my opinion. They can be costly however although worth every penny. Good luck

My fan: http://www.eautoworks.com/prod...X.htm
No don't install electric fans. The mechanical fan on the SR outflows most electric fan set ups. I have a Koyo radiator with the mechanical fan and under normal driving my temp stays around 190-195, even in traffic.

IheartmySR
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Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:22 pm
Car: 1991 240sx SR20DET

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S14toRPS13 wrote:No don't install electric fans. The mechanical fan on the SR outflows most electric fan set ups. I have a Koyo radiator with the mechanical fan and under normal driving my temp stays around 190-195, even in traffic.
although that is true it is inefficient, I was only expressing my opinion about electric fans but if you want to get technical electric fans are much better. Newer technology, cleaner setup, more room. A lot of times people forget the amount of drag a mechanical fan puts on the engine. It has been proven you can gain up to 8 HP by just swapping electric fans maybe you won't run 190-195 but you will run the standard temperature or lower depending on the quality of fans. I doubt you will see any mechanical fans on any real race cars, not even american muscle, at least I have not. In your case since you have an after market radiator might also be contributing to the cool temps.

Edit: I forgot to mention you will also save gas but that is really noticeable on big trucks and such. Still electric fans dominate mechanical fans.
Modified by IheartmySR at 4:17 PM 2/28/2010

S14toRPS13
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Location: Back to CA

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I understand the positives and negatives of both type of fans, but that was good info though. I just didn't want the OP to think that he needed buy something that wasn't necessary.

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Mychal
Posts: 94
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:58 am
Car: 89' Nissan 240sx

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yea i do get paraniod loli just want it to tell me if it is running hot before its to latei have a big radiator and electric fans

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s13-t
Posts: 419
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:07 pm
Car: s13 pig nose w/blacktop sr20det

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I bought the one made by stance or "tough factory" it has a true 1/8th npt thread. no adapter needed. its also 55 bucks....


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