Engine/Coolant Temperature Sensor

[Rogue]

My Temperature gauge has been acting up on my 1991 L98.

It was intermittentaly going on and off. Finally, it has just died. Even after driving for many miles the temperature gauge stays in its lowest position.

Before I have a technician look at it, can anybody tell me where this temperature sensor is located and how easy/hard it is to replace?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

The sensor for the analogue gauge is on the Rt. hand side of the motor, roughly between the two sparkplugs closest to the firewall. Be careful if you stick your hand in there when the motor is hot, those exhaust manifolds are HOT!

Try cleaning the connector and check the wire for breaks close to the connector. Unlike all of the Hi-Tech connectors on our L98s the Temp sensor has an old fashion solder less connector and the wire is really close to the exhaust.

 

[Rogue]

Thanks Spanishvette. I'll check it out.

 

[Rogue]

I resurrected this thread to tell you guys what happened and maybe some will learn a valuable lesson like I did.

I originally posted this thread back in 2004 right after I got my Corvette back from the Chevy dealership for a tune up and spark plug replacement. Being naive and not willing to get my hands dirty, I decided to take the Corvette back to the dealership to get the none working coolant temperature analog gauge fixed. The dealership took a week to "fix" the problem and they even took apart the dashboard to "R&R" the gauge cluster. Overall, they charged me something like $600 to fix this problem back in '04.

Here is the messed up part. Fast forward to 2009. I had just finished replacing my 'Vette's spark plugs. Low and behold soon after that my coolant temperature gauge started working intermittently, erratically, then just died altogether. So I did a search and found this valuable post I made 5 years prior!

I figure what the hell! I popped the hood, found the coolant temperature sender located on the right side of the engine near the last sparkplug. Low and behold, the wire that hooked up to the sender was disconnected. From the looks of it, it is very easy to disconnect this wire while replacing the spark plug nearby. So I hooked up the wire and PRESTO! The coolant temp gauge is now working!

I will bet that my original problem back in 2004 was caused by the dealership mechanic accidentally disconnecting the coolant temperature sender wire while replacing that one spark plug near the sender. I ended up paying $600 back then and had some wrench monkey taking my dashboard apart when it was probably a simple disconnected wire! Live and learn!

 

[vetteoz]

Low and behold, the wire that hooked up to the sender was disconnected. From the looks of it, it is very easy to disconnect this wire while replacing the spark plug nearby.

Happens all the time and you usually don't notice the wire was there in the 1st place so you don't check when finished

 

[JAKE]

Yep, and all I did was use a cable tie to prevent the connector from falling off, keeping everything away from the exhaust manifold heat.

I wish I had known about your problem back then; could have saved you all that time and $$$

Jake

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