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Working through another problem... this time the temperature sender

bassackwards

bassackwards

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I forgot to snag the temp sender off my engine before I sold it and now no parts house can't tell me which one I should have.


1989 TBI Blazer

This is the one on the left head that controls the gauge. Should it be the one with the spade connector or the button type connector?

MF108.JPG


or

70s_temp_sender.jpg


My connector looks just like this so I think it may be #2

414Bt0gfXNL._AC_.jpg
 
head left side is gauge = flat spade or side clip . single green wire .

intake on tbi is computer = weather pack connector .

i have seen both styles in head and clip on the same wire connector you posted with no real problems .
 
sweetk30 said:
head left side is gauge = flat spade or side clip . single green wire .

intake on tbi is computer = weather pack connector .

i have seen both styles in head and clip on the same wire connector you posted with no real problems .
Click to expand...
My 87 has #2, single green wire in the driver side head. Parts place couldn’t find it for me either. Nail head style.
 
I snagged the one off the intake and missed the one on the head. I took lots of pics and I see it hiding under the manifold but can't make out which one it is.

Anyone have a correct part # for #2?
 
The original equipment sender is supposed to be the one with the single spade terminal. If there was a sender with a nail head terminal, then it may have been an aftermarket sender that went with an aftermarket gauge that used to be in your Blazer.
 
1-ton said:
The original equipment sender is supposed to be the one with the single spade terminal. If there was a sender with a nail head terminal, then it may have been an aftermarket sender that went with an aftermarket gauge that used to be in your Blazer.
Click to expand...

Is the spade a TBI only thing?

The slot in the plastic is so the "connector" can slide over the post the nail sits on and still be retained.

Terrible design IMO, yet never had one fall off. I've not seen an engine with anything but the nail head design on it...granted, most every block I've seen has been of the carb era. I've seen enough of them however to have to believe they are or were OEM for many, many applications.
 
1-ton said:
The original equipment sender is supposed to be the one with the single spade terminal. If there was a sender with a nail head terminal, then it may have been an aftermarket sender that went with an aftermarket gauge that used to be in your Blazer.
Click to expand...


I don't know what was on it because I forgot to pull it and my pics do not show it clearly. I got pics of almost everything but missed a few important ones I guess
 
bassackwards said:
I don't know what was on it because I forgot to pull it and my pics do not show it clearly. I got pics of almost everything but missed a few important ones I guess
Click to expand...

My thoughts are get whichever one the parts stores carry and the connector for it. If you already have the right connector, return the one you bought, otherwise replace it. If they stock both, get both and return the one you didn't need.

I need to remove the aftermarket one that's currently on my rig, but I'll probably go with a sensor from a later model (later TBI/Vortec) as it also has a weatherpack connector but just a single pin.
 
The weather pack connector sending unit on the intake is just for the engine computer. The unit with the button head is the sending unit that goes into the head for your instrument cluster. The thermistor resistance span between the spade and button style are the same as far as I have experienced so just get whatever type fits your engine's head and wiring.

There is a car application that is three wire - A single wire for the instrument cluster thermistor and two wires for the engine computer. You can install it in the intake manifold where the coolant temp sensor for the ECM is located stock. I think they were on the Camaro or a Grand National or something with a V6.
 
Russell said:
There is a car application that is three wire - A single wire for the instrument cluster thermistor and two wires for the engine computer. You can install it in the intake manifold where the coolant temp sensor for the ECM is located stock. I think they were on the Camaro or a Grand National or something with a V6.
Click to expand...

I've got one (or many) Delco three wire CTS/temp senders in boxes on my shelf if the OP wants the PN.
 
The button head for the gauge is what I need. I got the one off the intake for the ECM already. I didn't realize that there was another sensor/sender hiding behind the exhaust manifold
 
the diameter of the sensors are different for earlier carb heads and later tbi and or vortec heads. what size do your heads need? I'm not sure, I don't think the button head sensor comes in the smaller diameter.
 
Just picked one up at Oreilly Auto Parts that matches the gauge impedance correctly. Part # 2-8335
 
mslman said:
Just picked one up at Oreilly Auto Parts that matches the gauge impedance correctly. Part # 2-8335
Click to expand...

Even the retailers cant get the description right?? Oreillys lists it as a switch. Big difference, idiots.
 
So I'm running it now and it only appears to be about 5ﾟ off at 180.
 
I still have not found the correct one. All of the ones that I have found with a button are too big and the ones that fit the hole have a spade type connection.
 
bassackwards said:
I still have not found the correct one. All of the ones that I have found with a button are too big and the ones that fit the hole have a spade type connection.
Click to expand...

Can you post a pic of your connector?

Not to be condescending, but if it's the "button" style, the button goes just inside the plastic where the slot is, there is no locking mechanism to it...the connector just slips over the button, the brass contact only hits the "top" of the button.

Only reason I'm questioning is because as I stated earlier, I've never seen another type of connector/sender other than the button. I've had both the large and small diameter senders, and they both had identical buttons.
 
dyeager535 said:
Can you post a pic of your connector?

Not to be condescending, but if it's the "button" style, the button goes just inside the plastic where the slot is, there is no locking mechanism to it...the connector just slips over the button, the brass contact only hits the "top" of the button.

Only reason I'm questioning is because as I stated earlier, I've never seen another type of connector/sender other than the button. I've had both the large and small diameter senders, and they both had identical buttons.
Click to expand...


Post a part # for a 3/8 npt one with a button connector then
 
bassackwards said:
Post a part # for a 3/8 npt one with a button connector then
Click to expand...

Now that I think about it, I'm positive back in the day I had to run a reducer to fit the smaller sender in the older heads that I was running. I'll have to look and see if it's still in my cabinet of parts.

However, I do recall running this style at one point: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MPE...rature+Sender+Switch&keywordInput=temperature

On my truck now I'm running one similar to this https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/DEMTS10032?partTypeName=Coolant+Temp+Sensor&keywordInput=temperature although I'm not sure that particular one is 3/8 thread. I do know that I should have the part number at home. It combines both the CTS and gauge temp sender.
 
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