so my temp gauge started getting erratic, traced it to a cracked sensor, you know that one on the back of the head?

the OE part number is 7012 on the sensor, i later found that the entire number is 56027012. this apparently crosses with a standard ts334 and an autozone tu236.

well.....the standard part doesn't read right on the gauge. with the oem sensor i was at 195 virtually all the time. new stat and radiator and hoses last year.

with this new sensor it's now between 210 and the red all the time...and appears to be my new 195, so the gauge works, the sensor resistance is just off

crown also makes this part and uses the OE 56027012 number.

my thoughts

1. get up to operating temp with cluster apart and pull needle and replace at 195 where it should be..have done this with hondas before, can you do it with our clusters?

2. go to pick n pull and buy a used oem sensor for a dollar or two

3. try the crown sensor for $15

4. leave it alone and get use to a high gauge...this is going to annoy me

 

Why spend $15 on a Crown sensor/sender? Before long you will have paid as much for useless aftermarket units as a new OEM sender costs. I finally got an OEM sender after getting tired of the gauge fluctuations.

But of course the temp in the back of the head is not necessarily the same as, say, at the thermostat housing. Have you seen the recent massive thread about what is the "correct" temp for the gauge to display? Point being is that you consider 195* is where it should be while others feel it should be 210* (which my '93 locks into), etc., etc., etc. If 195* is important to you, I would probably just move the needle which you will no doubt have to do from time to time as components age.

Have you checked your actual temp with an IR thermometer which is the only way to know what temps actually are?

 

haven't used the IR gun to check temps but just on the feel and general experience. it feels like it's somewhere in the 190-210 range. the hand test is only so accurate. i was just surprised the OEM one and this one were so far off. i may just go grab a couple used oem sensors at pick n pull. i also grabbed a spare standard fan switch when i bought this one and now wonder if it will also be off?

i just went and looked at this one again after driving 5 miles and it's a hair over 210. i guess if that's normal on the gauge i'll get use to it. the important part is it seems to be sweeping correctly so i'll know if it gets too hot. the gauge isn't really that important to me, the fan switch is the one i'd like to make sure is where it should be. so far i'm still on the OEM unit but wonder about using standard sensors there if they are "off" from oem

i suppose the accurate way to do this would be to drill out my old sensor and glue in a probe from a mech water temp gauge, screw that in and get a reading then set the needle in the cluster to that number with the electronic sensor plugged in. which brings up another point. i have no idea if the previous owner{s} may have moved the needle in my cluster either. i bought this as a winter beater 230k miles 8 owners. god only knows

ps. are these aftermarket sensors just junk?

 

I put in a napa sensor when I switched from dummy light to gauge. Been reading correct for 2 years now.... I did go with the premium sensor was about $30

 

So I just found this. I am having this same problem. I have been trying to figure this out for a year.

Did the Standard Sensor cause your issue?

 

yes. The standard sensor was not accurate. That Crown one worked for years until I sold the Cherokee

 

The BWD sensor (Advance or Pep boys) has Ben working well for me.

 

Thanks. I will try that. After all this time. I have replaced everything on the cooling system.

Sons of