Hi guys- I have a 1976 toyota pickup, and I am currently changing out the Intake Manifold gasket and putting a rebuilt carb on it. I would also like to replace the coolent temp sensor while I am at it. My manual shows 2 sensors, one in the thermostat housing, and one in the intake manifold. The manual also refers to the one in the thermostat housing as the "white one". This leads me to believe that possibly these are different? The parts suppliers only recognize one coolent sensor for this truck. Am I off base? Help!
Thermo Sensor Location... I almost shat myself the other day, when, on my way back to the shop from a job site, i looked down and saw my gauge was reading HOTTTT!!! I immediatly pulled over and shut her down. To my surprise though, she wasnt steaming or particulary hot to the touch either. I breathed a sigh of relief and started troubleshooting. Pump was good, rad was good, plenty-o-coolant. I pulled the thermo and replaced it, and got on my way. But, she was still reading hott. Still worried, i again pulled over and let her sit for almost an hour. I was on company time so i had no quams about wasting a lil time. After letting her cool off, i got back on my way and, again the gauge shot up. I went out today and got a temp sensor, and a repair manual. But im still having trouble cuz the one that i bought has a male plug that doesnt look like any of the ones that i have on my thermo housing. Am i lookin in the wrong place? The books picture doesnt help much. Thanx ahead of time. Peace
the actuall temp gauge sender is on the intake right next to the thermostat. depending on which emissions setup you have (there are a few) the emissions temp sender is either on the forward side of the intake near the #2 intake port, or on the bottom of the intake, either way it would use a green plug. some models (usually calif emissions) have 3 temp senders, 1 for the gauge and 2 for the emissions. blasito- sounds like you either have a air bubble in the coolant sys or a malfunctioning fan clutch. i would also check for cold spots on the radiator core.
I finally fig'd out where mine was, the parts places all were giving me the sensor for an 83 model year, which i have, but the sensor is from an 82. Anywhoo, the sensor that goes to the gauge is on the front of the block, single wire, about 2 or 3 inches down from the thermo housing, just in front of it. hope that helps. I put it in today and my gauge is reading normally again.
