Does this sound like my Coolant Temp Sensor needs replaced?

[Captain_Ron80]

I've been posting a few questions lately and I appreciate everyones willingness to help. I am just working on cleaning up a few things on the ol' S13 as far as operation goes. Since my blacktop swap my oem temp guage doesn't work properly. When I first started the engine it functioned only once or twice intermittently... Now I get nearly nothing from it. Every once in awhile it will creep up just above the 1st line but that is it. I know it is not the guage because I have 3 clusters and they all have this exact symptom. I am planning on installing aftermarket although I am a bit anal and just want the one in the cluster to work. I have burped the radiator a few times and i'm pretty sure that all the bubbles are gone. A few questions...

1) Does it sound like the coolant temp sensor needs to be replaced?

2) I read that late model blacktops may use a different sensor then early... Confirm?

3) USDM replacement?

Thanks in advance...

Ron

[cotbu]

Thermistor or wiring, try wiggling the plug, or check the contacts.

[Captain_Ron80]

Thermistor or wiring, try wiggling the plug, or check the contacts.

It was just a straight up swap... I don't believe it is wiring... especially seeings how it is functioning somewhat. At least that is how it is making sense to me. Thermistor is a new term for me. Can you elaborate?

[cotbu]

Thermistor (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Thermistor)
It's the sensor by the coolant temp sensor, it's for the stock temp gauge.

[Captain_Ron80]

Thermistor (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Thermistor)
It's the sensor by the coolant temp sensor, it's for the stock temp gauge.

Oh, I know what you are referring to. I'll check it out this weekend. Thanks!

Ron

[thelinja]

Invest in an aftermarket gauge for coolant. They are a lot more accurate thatn the stock gauge.

[txrxs]

Aftermarket radiator? If so, unplug your fans and let it run for a bit. See if the gauge gets to operating temp?

[Captain_Ron80]

Invest in an aftermarket gauge for coolant. They are a lot more accurate thatn the stock gauge.

I am going to install one soon... but like my original post said I am just anal about everything working the way it should!

[Captain_Ron80]

Aftermarket radiator? If so, unplug your fans and let it run for a bit. See if the gauge gets to operating temp?

Actually I do... It's a visteon aluminum with dual electric. Will that keep the operating engine temperature so low to where the guage won't even move? I guess the couple times I have seen it move (just barely above the 1st line) was when I was in the boost pretty hard. Not a bad suggestion though to unplug the fan though. I'll also try that.