I've searched all over and have found some threads where people were having similar problems to mine but not exactly the same. My coolant temp gauge does nothing. When I am cranking the engine it shoots up, but when running it just sits at the bottom. I have an 89 350 TPI. I replaced the CTS (coolant temp sensor) and now I read somewhere that there is actually an ENGINE TEMP SENSOR that feeds a signal to the gauge. Anybody know anything about this? Does my engine even have an engine temp gauge? I can't figure out why im not getting a reading and I'm a bit afraid to drive my car in this summer heat with no reading. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

the sensor is on the driver side cylinder head near #1 spark plug. you may want to see if that one wire is connected.
Martin

 

I checked it out and all that is there is what appears to be the secondary fan switch. I only have one cooling fan because my car was originally an 89 RS with a 305 TBI. There is no wire around. However I do have a single green wire with a connector on the end but im pretty sure that it is for the underhood light. In my haynes manual it says that, if there is a guage in the instrument cluster, that the engine temp sensor is replaced by a transducer? Now im totally confused. Any more help would be greatly appreciated.

 

That green wire is your temp guage. If you ground that wire with the ignition on your guage will peg out. The sender on the drivers side between #1 and 3 spark plug controls the guage. This pic shows it. The fan switch is in the passenger side head near the back.

 

the part circled is exactly what i have but the clip on the green wire will not connect to that by any means...because it has that clip on it it could not be grounding....was it differant for TBI compared to TPI?

 

They are the same. The clip should have a white plastic cover on it. There are two types of sensors, one with a spade connector and one with a button style connector. This pic is not like yours, but it shows how the plug goes on the button style. If you use all the pictures I posted you should get the general idea.

 

Now I understand. Im guessing that the clip is differant because my car had a 305 TBI until recently. Thanks for all the help. That was cool of you to take pics for me.

 

Your welcome. I kind of borrowed them from other peoples posts. I am glad you figured it out. Does your guage work now?

 

yea i just clipped off a connector from an old harness a have layin around.....connected it and its working fine. thanks again

 

Glad I could help. The temp guage is one of the most important on our cars.

 

If you own a camaro, glance at the temp gauge and charge gauge every few minutes