First of all, hello everyone. I've been reading up on the forum for about a month since I got my Cherokee and finally decided to join, what a wealth of info.

Ok, so here's my issue. I bought a 95 cherokee 2.5, 5 spd, 2 dr. with idiot lights. Sure no problem, I'll just buy a cheap set of gauges from AutoZone and throw those in.... Put the sender into the thermostat and removed the one that was in there and unplugged it.... check engine light followed immediately and car kept dieing.

Read on the forum that the sensor in the thermostat is used for the ECU to control carious things, so that's a no go. And the sender in the back of the head (for the idiot light, I assume) is tiny, maybe 1/4 inch compare to the gauge sender which is a 1/2"

I found pics online of someone making a bunch of T fittings coming off the thermostat so that he got both the sensors in, but to me that doesn't seem like it would work well as the coolant wouldn't constantly be flowing that far back and it would give a false reading.

Finally, where do you guys that put an aftermarket coolant gauges in run the sender to?

 

I've seen a few ways to do it without the "T" fittings, there are probably more- a new thermostat housing with a second port drilled and tapped (Hesco makes one), or drill and tap yours for a second fitting, or a reducer adapter used in reverse to fit it to the rear head port.

 

My guess is u have a "mechanical" aftermarket temp gauge and most mechanical gauges have the large (diameter) sending units. Most "electrical" aftermarket temp gauges have the small (diameter) sending unit and that may be size u need to fit the stock fitting hole.

 

Yes, it is a mechanical gauge, and the sender is rather long... but even the electric senders I've checked out are the same dia hole, just about half the length. The one that goes to the idiot light is tiny.

Radi, do you have a link or a part number I can search for the thermostat with more holes in it? I was debating just drilling a hole, but with all the houses there's really no place for it, besides straight in the side.... but then you run into the issue of the fan ripping it right out if you start the car.

....maybe it will just be easier to change to the full gauge cluster

 

Two-sensor thermostat housing:
http://hesco.us/shop.asp?action=deta...247&catId=7969

rrich mentioned this in a different thread, might be another workable option:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130606047438...84.m1438.l2649

 

Speaking of which, where has rrich been?

 

I did thois a while back and if your looking to but a guage from autozone or oreillys napa whatever. your probably going to have to get an electronic guage thats all i could find from them in that size. Im sure you could get mechanical ones online tho. hope thuis helps think i picked mine up at oreillys for like 25bucks

 

The first link is not working for me, but I like the 2nd option. I think it would be better to avoid the water outlet housing and just put the sensor right into the radiator hose, then you can keep it out of the way at least instead of T'ing off and putting 3 spacers on.

Thanks for everyones input.

 

The mechanical sending unit gauges I've used always had a 3/8" or 1/2" MNPT fitting whereas the electrical sending unit gauges all used 1/8" or 1/4" MNPT fittings which r substantially smaller in diameter than mechanical sending units.