Notices
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

coolant/water temperature gauge help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-28-2005, 02:06 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
typical8o8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
coolant/water temperature gauge help

My coolant temperature gauge in my '88 4Runner V6 is not working. It does not move whatsoever. I've checked the ECM for voltage (~1 volt), the wires to the ECT sensor for voltage (~5 volts), and the ECT sensor for resistance. The gauge does not even move when I short the wires going to the ECT sensor. I'm hoping this is not a gauge problem. Could it be faulty sender(s) or connections to sender(s)? Where would they be located? Thanks.
Old 10-28-2005, 02:16 AM
  #2  
Contributing Member
 
dwh91102's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Aurora, Indiana
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Typical, need some more information, Veh, year, motor,
Old 10-28-2005, 07:09 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
JamesD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Your temperature gauge has its own sensor which is located in the back of the intake. Get a wiring diagram to see which one it is. When you do find out, take the pigtail and ground it. They gauge in your truck should peg to HOT. If it doesnt then you need a new gauge. If it does you need a new sending unit. The ECT is for the computer only and not the gauge.

James
Old 10-28-2005, 09:57 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
typical8o8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
would someone be kind enough to take a picture of the temperature sender behind the intake? if that's not possible, could someone tell me what the colors of the wires going to the sender are? there's a few wires back there and i want to be sure i'm working with the right one.
Old 10-28-2005, 02:18 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
JamesD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by typical8o8
would someone be kind enough to take a picture of the temperature sender behind the intake? if that's not possible, could someone tell me what the colors of the wires going to the sender are? there's a few wires back there and i want to be sure i'm working with the right one.
Get a wiring diagram. Maybe if you search you can find it here or on other Toyota websites. Its hard to take a pic because of where it is. I can try tonight for you.

James
Old 09-09-2006, 11:26 AM
  #6  
Donny, you're out of your element
Staff
iTrader: (23)
 
DeathCougar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 17,689
Received 53 Likes on 34 Posts
is THIS the Coolant Sensor on 3.0l V6 Engines?? (Mine is an 89)

Old 09-09-2006, 11:27 AM
  #7  
Donny, you're out of your element
Staff
iTrader: (23)
 
DeathCougar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 17,689
Received 53 Likes on 34 Posts
the coolant sensor for the temp gauge I mean.

I tired grounding the wire that went to this, and it stayed at 1/2 gauge. It did not peg. (i've been having a problem that the temp always seems to stay at 1/2 gauge, even when COLD!!)
Old 10-03-2006, 10:46 PM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
typical8o8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
according to the '88 and '93 FSM that looks like it's the one, though i haven't confirmed it myself. my temp gauge works only once in a while.
Old 10-03-2006, 11:07 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
CyMoN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2,149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DeathCougar
is THIS the Coolant Sensor on 3.0l V6 Engines?? (Mine is an 89)

what are the other two plugs on this for ?
i have a after market temp guage i would like to install and i am looking for a spot to place it. or can i put a brass T on it.
Old 10-04-2006, 01:04 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
CopenHagen_Smokeless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: currently CT, but only for a year
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i had the same problem and it ended up being a bad ground
Old 10-04-2006, 07:09 PM
  #11  
Donny, you're out of your element
Staff
iTrader: (23)
 
DeathCougar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 17,689
Received 53 Likes on 34 Posts
Thanks for the reply. Had this figured out a few weeks ago tho.
Old 10-04-2006, 07:36 PM
  #12  
Contributing Member
 
dwh91102's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Aurora, Indiana
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DeathCougar
is THIS the Coolant Sensor on 3.0l V6 Engines?? (Mine is an 89)

Death, the one you have circled runs the gauge on the truck, the one to the left of it is the engine temperature sensor that tells the ecu the engine temp, to control the injectors. When I put my mech. gauge on, I got an adaptor, and took out the sensor you have circled. Screw the adaptor in, then screw in the end of the gauge.....Waalaa nice new gauge, that is much, much, much more accurate than the factory gauge. If you have any other questions on gauges let me know, I also have the oil, and amp gauge. I just got these here... http://www.sunpro.com/product_detail.php?pid=16316

I installed them in the din slot under my radio, I can take some pics to if anyone wants to see them installed.
Old 10-06-2006, 02:01 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
typical8o8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by DeathCougar
Thanks for the reply. Had this figured out a few weeks ago tho.
what was wrong in your case? was it the gauge itself?
Old 10-06-2006, 05:32 PM
  #14  
Donny, you're out of your element
Staff
iTrader: (23)
 
DeathCougar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 17,689
Received 53 Likes on 34 Posts
Yes, it was the gauge itself. I followed the FSM testing procedures, and determined it wasn't the sensor, or the wiring. The tested the gauge by grounding out the wire and it did not respond, so I knew it was the gauge. 4Runner runs cool and calm now.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ashamsuddin
General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related)
17
01-13-2023 03:17 AM
zanzabar0
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
21
10-11-2015 02:56 AM
Jdgarrison
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
1
10-01-2015 05:22 PM
Matthew Perez
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
9
09-28-2015 05:43 PM
rmill05
84-85 Trucks & 4Runners
0
09-27-2015 01:43 PM



Quick Reply: coolant/water temperature gauge help



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:30 AM.