HI!,,i have a digital temp gauge that i want to install on my 86 iroc,,to complete my gauge cluster. i have never done this before,so i dont really know too much about it.i do know how to hook up power/ground,and i think i can see where the sending unit is attached to the engine.(they shipped me a specific sender to use with this gauge)but im not sure how to go about this properly.im not even sure where the wires lead into the car from the engine compartment..lol. what is the PROPER way to go about this procedure. thanks for any replies.much appreciated

 

oh,,there is a temp gauge on the car already,,but i dont think its working accuratly. it gives me really high readings. 230 to 240 gegrees. but it does not seem like the car is THAT hot. no valves pinging,,no water boiling over..no loss in horspower..i almost went and bought a new radiator fan combo due to the readings. is there anything i should know or keep in mind while removing the old sender and putting in the new(specific) one?

 

Use a Torx bit to remove the black gauge housing trim. Next, remove the clear plastic (you may need to remove small bolts - use a mini socket set if you have one). Once the trim and ring is off, simply grasp the gauge on each side simultaneously and pull it straight out toward you. A GM replacement pops right back in the same way.

The SENDER unit, which I just did last week isn't too hard, but a jack and stands will make the job easier and faster. It was hard to get a socket in there, so I moved what I could (disconnect sender wire and move spark plug wires out of the way) and then use an open wrench to loosen, alternating with the closed end. I'm sure a ratchet style wrench would work well. Keep in mind that once the plug gets loose enough, you WILL lose coolant. Expect many ounces to pour out, so plan accordingly.

I wanted to bring back the stock setup, so I removed an Autometer temp gauge. It had a built in sending unit which plugged into the block and an attached nut secured it. A new factory unit will thread in.

Regarding changing a SENSOR unit, you'll have to do a search on that specific to your car.

 

what is the difference between a SENDING unit,,and a SENSOR unit? i thought that all i had to do was change out the stock sending unit,,with the new one i got with my gauge.(the sending unit i got with my gauge supposedly fits into the threads) ...just a bit confused about "sending unit" and "sensor unit"...and thanks for the info. i need as much clarification as possible lol. first ever attempt at this.















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The SENDER is on the driver's side of the engine between the spark plugs closest to the radiator. A green wire should be attached to the clip that connects to the sender. Here is a sample photo from this website:



The SENSOR location depends on what type of engine you have (your profile just says '350', which, based on being an '86, is a replacement engine). If it's TPI, I believe I read the SENSOR is near the intake and it will be connected by a black and a yellow wire. If it's TBI, you'll have to search the forums for the location.

 

People use either or but should really use correct identification to avoid confusion

What you are talking about is the temperature GAUGE sensor / sending unit ( 1 wire unit mounted in the head ) as opposed to the
Coolant Temperature Sensor; CTS ( 2 wire unit at front of a EFI intake ) that sends engine temp info to the computer

 

yes,,thats what i was wondering about. thanks for clearing that up! i already have an aftermarket temp gauge(sunpro)hooked up. i want to do away with the sunpro and hook up a new digital temp gauge...what im confused about now is...i noticed that the wire from the sunpro has a metal coiled up wire running the whole lenth,,all the way down to the threads in the motor(down in an area around where the spark plugs are)..but my NEW gauge does not have this "coiling" around its(sender) wire. Does that really matter? my guess is that it is some sort of heat shield for the wire?? should i just run my new wires away from heat as much as possible? just wondering why my new wire has no "coiling"..and does it even matter? how should i wire this up? thanks for any help....ps...i have no computer in my car,,just a carburated 350...pulled from an old el camino i was told..lol.

 

Your Sunpro gauge is a mechanical one; has a thin copper tube all the way from the head to gauge so coil is there to protect it
I assume your new gauge is electric ; has just a wire running from gauge to sender ?

 

yeah,,just a wire. no protective coil around it. i was able to get it all attached yesterday. i was just wondering if that coil really mattered or not. i hooked this electric gauge up on top the motor(by the thermostat) and ran the wire away from any seriouse heat. seems to work fine..but now im trying to get these 3 gauges mounted up in the dash. they dont really fit,,so im doing a lil cutting inside the gauge cluster. nothing in it works anyhow except for the speedometer and rpm gauges.(cause the computer is now gone)...trying to line up these 3 circular gauges just right with the 3 cut out holes in the bezel...i dont want to cut the clear plastic plexiglass..or the metal face under it.one way or another..ill get it to look perfect..lol