theyammieguy

My 96 XJ has idiot lights, which I hate. I bought a set of gauges from Oreileys yesterday. Oil pressure, coolant temp and a volt meter. Reading the info thread here, I noticed the OBD II system only uses one port for the coolant temp. Without having looked at my engine yet, are there any more ports? Maybe on the water pump? I'm a Mack and Volvo mechanic so installing the gauges will be easy, just not real familar with autos. Any hidden things I should know before installing the gauges.

Also, is there a break down anywhere of the vacuum lines. I found a port that was half assed capped off last night and couldn't find wher it may have had a hose connecting it to somewhere else. The port was at the front of the intake manifold.

cherokee90

The temp sensor is in the thermostat housing, get a T from Lowes and put them both in that location. I just did this to my 1996 last weekend.

theyammieguy

I have brass here at work. The jeep is at home. Do you remember what size you used? 1/4 or 3/8?

jakbob

Why not just get the cluster you want from the junkyard with the correct senders?

cherokee90

It was 3/8 I'm almost 100%, so a 3/8 t, male 3/8 nipple to thread the T in to the t stat housing then the 2 sensors. Just watch out the probes on the 2 sensors get very close to each other inside the T. I just loaded the sensors up with tephlon tape to make them seal sooner, I have no leaks and everything works great.

cherokee90

Cause stock gauges are as reliable as a crack head...
My stock volt gauge reads 14+ aftermarket reads 12.
Stock temp gauge has been off by 30° compared to the aftermarket.

theyammieguy

Plus, most of the junk yards in my area have been picked clean. Also, why buy some old junk that may or may not work, when I can buy brand new gauges for $50?

djb383

'96 and down have 2 coolant temp sensors/sending units, drivers side rear of head has a temp sending unit for the factory dash gauge/light and the t-stat housing has a coolant temp sensor for the ECU. Have u thought about a ScanGauge, it's just plug-n-play into the ALDL port.

http://www.scangauge.com/

theyammieguy

I've never seen that before. I think I will buy it. Thanks for the link.

djb383

Gotta be blind in one eye and can't see out of the other to miss a bright red warning light AND a digital temp display. Shouldn't be driving 62 mph and taking pictures either.

(pic is old style ScanGauge)

jakbob

14v is normal. Cant charge a battery with equal voltage. And the 30° sounds like a sender issue.

Because all of the wiring is already there.

Djbs idea is pretty cool too.