Temperature sensor buggered? Pls Help

[CanadianLurch]

Hello, I have just gotten the wiring on my 1jz MA70 swap and im having a problem with the temperature gauge in my cluster. The sensor will stay at cold for a minute until the engine begins to warm up and then all of a sudden sky rockets to the top (past the red zone).

There is oil in the engine, there is currently mostly water in the coolant system (previous owner used green coolant and im trying to flush it out before adding my red) But i have flushed twice now and added a quart of coolant this time just to be safe (waiting 2 days for 50/50 as im not driving the car and im waiting on my new Rad)

The engine is getting warm and the rad hoses are not even hot to the touch after i have had the car running a couple minutes. I dont think the car is actually overheating and im just wondering if anyone knows whether this is a sensor bug or what?

Thanks for any help

 

[jaime.g]

this happened to me as well. its a simple wiring issue. I think you maybe missing a ground, or something to do with the ground. I can't remember off the top of my head for sure, but i believe i simply hooked up the ground for it. Try searching more and you should be able to find the answer.

 

[CanadianLurch]

Thank you, I have my buddy coming to look at it for me hopefully this weekend.

 

[CyFi6]

Check the resistance of the sensor at different temperatures and verify it matches with the specs in the book

 

[CanadianLurch]

Ive tried 3 different sensors and it does the same thing with all 3 so I think that means it may be a ground?

 

[jmcboost]

OK.... how to fix. The gauge cluster has a ground wire that you probably don't have grounded. Its a brown wire in the gauge cluster harness (black harness) that is behind the glove box. The ground wire is in the same harness that you splice the temp sensor wire into. If that's not it, then I don't know. Good Luck.

 

[CanadianLurch]

Ok thanks a bunch for all the info guys I appreciate. I did not wire my car up as I am a noob to mechanics, so the guy that did my wiring has looked at this thread and I believe he knows what to do now. He will hopefully be looking at it sometime next week (supposed to be Sunday but I forgot about easter so i wont be in town). Ill let you know how it goes after he checks!

Thanks Again

Steve