Anyone know how much coolant to drain to replace the temp. gauge sensor located on the LH side below the valve cover on the side of the block? Mine went dead- the temp gauge goes all the way past H. Disconnect the single wire and the gauge goes all the way below C. According to Haynes this means that the sensor (or is it sender?) is defective. Ordered a new one from Advance Auto parts and need to install it...

George, it would have to be drained down to somewhere below the level of the sensor. If you can point the rig uphill, the sensor will be at a higher point and you won't need to drain as much coolant out.

If you're not sure the level's low enough, just be real cautious when you unscrew the sensor; when you get to the last few threads, be ready to put the sensor right back in if you get a lot of coolant 'gushing' out.

If you're REAL fast, you can replace without draining (LOL). Not recommended though!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

HTH and Happy Draining............ed

Well, ended up having to get the part from the dealer- $36.00 OUCH! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> The Advance part was too small. The guy there said to just pull the old and put in the new... A nice warm antifreeze shower <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> later and my temp gauge is working again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

My guage never goes off of cold. Would I have the same problem? I haven't started looking into it yet. Thought I might get an opinion from you guys first.

It could either be your sensor or your thermostat.Check the temp of your hoses and see how warm they are.I had to replace the sensor and thermostat on my engine , my thermostat was shot , ran cold , and the sensor was shot too.Took me all of 20 minutes to change both , and I think it cost me 20 bucks in total.I do get a discount at a local parts store <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

nj91,
You can test the guage by removing the plug at the sender and grounding it, turn key, should go to full hot. Once you are sure the guage works check the other stuff as others have mentioned. Mine wasn't registering, I replaced the thermostat, fine ever since.

Thanks guys. Will check all mentioned.

FYI, you should be running a 190-195 deg (maybe 192 deg nominal, I can't recall off the top of my head) thermostat in this motor. Note the the 'stat in a 4-cyl 2.6 is only 180 deg.

Both my old 2.8 rig and current 3.4 LS don't have much deflection upscale. If you're fully up to temp and somewhere up around 1/4 (or maybe a bit higher) it's probably 'normal'.

I do recall on my old 2.8 when a heater hose busted and the rig overheated badly, the temp gauge got all the way up to 1/2!! Most I ever saw it go to.

My Temp gauge in my 2.6L Troop was never ever hotter than 1/8th of the way above the gauge. Changed the Thermo (180* one) and Temp Sender Unit and now its just below/around 1/2. Never high though.

Is 1/2 ok?

1/4 to 1/2 is considered normal.Its when it gets higher , especialy close to the red that you have to start worrying about it being too hot.When I replaced my sensor and my thermostat it sits at 1/2 also.Before I replaced both , it barely moved at all on the guage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />