I bought a 1991 Firebird equipped with the fire_breathing 5.0L yesterday. I love the car! Today I noticed my temp guage all of the sudden drop to the left and fail to read my coolant temp. I checked the fluid, and it's a cloudy (dirty looking) green color. Looks like very old, stright anti-freeze. I'll drain it out tomorrow and refill witht he proper mixture. Anyhow, I hopped back in the car and started it up. The temp guage still wouldn't read. After idling for a minute or so I gave it a little rev, and the guage jumped back to the proper temp for a short period of time, and then the needle jumped around a bit before failing to read a temp again.

I figure either the sensor, or sending unit (or transducer according to manual) is toast. I bought a manual for the car today, and can only find info on how to replace the two items. The sensor seems to be easier to replace... Any ideas on what I should do? I know nothing about this sort of stuff.

-about that cloudy coolant.. If there was a gasket leak, would the oil seperate from the coolant, or might there be an oil/fluid leak... and would that have caused the guage failure?

Thanks so much guys

 

I'd check the wire to the sensor first. When sensors fail its usually permanent, not intermittant like you describe. Check the wire, and especially the connector onto the sensor. After many years sitting so close to the headers these wires are in an awful state.

Si.

 

Thanks!

It must be a bad connection. I jiggled some stuff, and the guage appears to work properly now. Maybe it was just a loose connection. I have heard that the temp. sensor directly effects your injection system. On a TBI engine like mine, could this be an issue?

 

Fraid I don't know about the TBI, but usually the gauge sensor is separate from the computer bitty that runs the engine. On my engine, I have 3 sensors, though 1 is redundant, as there is no computer. I for the gauge, 1 for the fans, and one for the missing computer....

So you should be okay, I think.

Si. :lala:

 

Could someone tell me where the engine coolant temperature sensor is located on the block of a 1991 camaro 305 v8?
Thanks...Rod in San Jose, CA

 

From my Pontiac Firebird 82-92 Manual.
On V8 TPI models, the sensor is on the front of the intake manifold, and you may need to remove a bracket to gain access to it. On carburated V8 models it is on the thermostat housing.