Wtf is a Sending unit and where is it?

 

Sending unit usually refers to a sensor for an electric gauge. The factory temperature sender is in a port in the side of the driver's side head.

 

The sending unit is not the sensor for the computer. It tells the gauge in the dash (or the idiot light if that's what you have, in which case it is a switch and not a sender) what temp the engine is running at.

BTW, where exactly is the sender on a V6 anyways? I know the sensor is in the intake manifold, but I have two more objects sticking into the coolant jacketing (one was the CSI switch I know that) and I originally though the one in the driver's side head was the knock sensor.. but I've heard the V6 don't have a KS... I don't get it...

 

Why isnt my temp gauge working?

It was working then one day my Oxgen Sensor poped out and it stoped working, I fixed the oc sensor

The little green wire is plugged in to the head

Ever since the car has been a lot harder to start

The gauge is pointed staight at 100 degress and does not move unless the car is off, in which is in is burried at zero(which is normal obv)

 

You are correct in a way Maverick, the 2.8L V6 does not have a knock sensor. However the 3.1L V6 does and it is located on the passenger side in the block. The coolant temp sending unit is located in the driver side head and has a dark green wire going to it. The O2 sensor has a purple wire going to it.

 

Hmmm... Now that's puzzling. According to my Haynes manual (bear with me for a moment... I know its wrong about most things) the 2.8 does in fact have a knock sensor and it has a connector with a Dk Blu wire. However, since I haven't really needed to look at the wiring diagram for the 3.1, I don't know what color that one is. I found that the sensor like thing in the driver's side head in fact had a dark blue wire (yes, even after I cleaned it up... yuck!) so I kind of thought it was the KS.. So where exactly might I find the KS on my 3.1?

BTW, I know I no longer have a CSI , but there's still something in the hole in the intake where the CSI switch was on my 2.8-what's the deal with that? The only part of the 2.8 intake that was swapped between the engines was the upper plenum.. I don't get this one either...

 

Hello Maverick,

I have gone through my haynes and chilton manual for the camaros and though they list the code 43 for the 2.8L engine. There is no reference elsewhere in the books for a knock (detonation) sensor on the 2.8L. There isn't even a reference for one on the 3.1L engines. I have gone through all the GM service manuals I have for the camaros & firebirds and none of them show a knock (detonation) sensor for the 2.8L engines. There is one on the 3.1L engines and it is located on the passenger side of the block and has a dark blue wire. The other item that you had in question is possibly your coolant temp sensor, it is located at the top front of the engine underneath the plenum and should have a connector with a yellow wire and a black wire.

 

I know which one that is, I still have yet to drop in the new sensor I bought . The thing I'm referring to is to the right of it (looking at the front of the car or the driver's side of the CTS).
One, the one you are referring to, is AC/Delco part number 213-928, and the other, with the blade type terminal in the cyl head, is part number D1885.

The one I can't find is the one that has an injector-like connection to the wiring harness. That one confuses me, and I have verified that it is in fact a temp sensor of some sort, since it penetrates into the cooling jacket next to the two terminal CTS. I can't get a pic of it right now, my dig cam is in Ohio... All I know about it is that the connector is bundled in with the injector harness and has the same type of connector as the fuel injectors, but it is blue in color where the injector connectors are black...

 

Well Maverick,

I don't know what to tell you then. This is the only thing that I know of that sits next to the CTS on the manifold. It is a "Cold Start Injector Switch" . It worked in conjunction with the cold start injector. The wires are colored purple and tan.

 

yup, the only coolant switch/sensor with a injector type plug is a cold start injector switch