Topic: Where is my temp sender?

[Quite Happy]

OK, I've managed to make my oil pressure gauge work (previous owner had it wired wrong), and my gas gauge now works.  My coolant temperature gauge works, except that I can't seem to find where the sender is located on the engine.  I've nailed down the wire by using an ohmeter connected to each end.  Now I just need to find the place to plug it in on the engine side.  Does anybody out there know?  It's a 1985 CJ7, with the 4-banger motor (duh, I'm on a 4-banger site, fer cryin' out loud).  None of the manuals I can find actually show the sensor on the motor.

[chardrc]

unless it was different for the cj than the yj, the coolent temp sensor for the gauge was on the back (near the firewall) driver side of the head. looks like a really small stud with a wire pushed over it..... may be different on the cj though..

http://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f2/30579d1290639651-temp-gauge-sending-unit-r4.jpg

[sharpxmen]

does he have the AMC or the Pontiac 2.5L? I thought '87 was the changeover year, not sure though.

[Quite Happy]

I have the AMC motor.  When I get home this evening, I'll check your location, chardrc.

[Quite Happy]

unless it was different for the cj than the yj, the coolent temp sensor for the gauge was on the back (near the firewall) driver side of the head. looks like a really small stud with a wire pushed over it..... may be different on the cj though..

http://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f2/30579d1290639651-temp-gauge-sending-unit-r4.jpg

You were right on the location.  I couldn't see it, but found it by feeling around.  The wire was not attached, and I knew it had to be nearby.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I plugged the wire to another spot that I thought was the temp sender, and it grounded the gauge so that it pegged.  By the time I realized this was the wrong place, the gauge was fried.  I pulled it out and, sure enough, the little wire inside is all black, toasted and broken.  Now I get to find the OEM gauge at either a junkyard or online somewhere.  Parts stores want to sell me an aftermarket gauge, but I want the one that goes in with the speedo, and they all look at me like I'm an alien or something.  They may be right, but I still want the OEM gauge.

[Jeffy]

You were right on the location.  I couldn't see it, but found it by feeling around.  The wire was not attached, and I knew it had to be nearby.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I plugged the wire to another spot that I thought was the temp sender, and it grounded the gauge so that it pegged.  By the time I realized this was the wrong place, the gauge was fried.  I pulled it out and, sure enough, the little wire inside is all black, toasted and broken.  Now I get to find the OEM gauge at either a junkyard or online somewhere.  Parts stores want to sell me an aftermarket gauge, but I want the one that goes in with the speedo, and they all look at me like I'm an alien or something.  They may be right, but I still want the OEM gauge.

You're lucky.  It's a rare find to have all the gauges working in the speedo.

[YJWralph]

You were right on the location.  I couldn't see it, but found it by feeling around.  The wire was not attached, and I knew it had to be nearby.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I plugged the wire to another spot that I thought was the temp sender, and it grounded the gauge so that it pegged.  By the time I realized this was the wrong place, the gauge was fried.  I pulled it out and, sure enough, the little wire inside is all black, toasted and broken.  Now I get to find the OEM gauge at either a junkyard or online somewhere.  Parts stores want to sell me an aftermarket gauge, but I want the one that goes in with the speedo, and they all look at me like I'm an alien or something.  They may be right, but I still want the OEM gauge.

Looking for something like this?
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=11029

[Quite Happy]

Looking for something like this?
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=11029

Thanks, YJWralph.  I may be going an entirely different direction.  I may replace the entire dash and relocate everything with all new gauges and a new speedo, so everything matches.  It's a project, anyway, right?

[YJWralph]

You got that right!