Temp idiot light does not come on at all.

I took apart the gauge panel today (in the heat, LOL) and tested the bulb for the temp idiot light, it is good.

How can I test the sensor? (the one near the firewall)
I am not getting any fault codes, I only have OBD1 and dont know if that covers the temp sensors.

Thanks.

 

are you overheating?

 

No, Well maybe...
The previous owner replaced the water pump and the radiator just before I purchased it and I dont know why?
I replaced all the hoses, removed the radiator and flushed it, put in new coolant and will be doing the thermostat soon.
Today it seemed to get very hot, could be just the outside temps, its been very hot here the last few days.

I do want the temp light to work, especially since summer is coming soon..

 

You just ground the wire to the sensor. (That means touch it to any metal, like the head). The light should come on, even if somebody put the incorrect gauge sensor in it.

Years ago a poster had his light glowing low...his "variable ground" gauge sensor was half arsedly grounding his idiot light. Hope that helps!

I just re read>>> "Temp idiot light does not come on at all."
It should come on when you first turn on the Ign......

 

Arsedly- word of the day.

 

Well, half assedly will be cut out by the sensors.! Edit....MM well maybe not!

 

Because shorting the hot completes the circuit just as if the sensor would...
I should have thought before I posted...

Thanks

 

Our XJs do 'seem to get very hot' when compared to many other vehicles, this is normal.
I suggest an infra-red temperature gun to confirm actual temperatures.

 

Edit> Oh! HI Steve, we double posted..
Nick:
Ha Ha! Well believe it or not we get some posters that are a little farther off the curve than yourself!

Still it gets a little tricky....I guess it's the ECU that turns it on with ign to let us know that the circuit and bulb are functioning.

And yea, those IR guns are neat.

 

K, I just shorted the wire and the bulb popped on. Oddly enough when I was at oriellys today I was going to get the sensor to replace it, Theyre computer showed having one but they didnt have one.

I also noticed that the wireing to the fuel injector next to the sensor has no insulation, (right on the injector) I guess it has deteriorated and fell off, I would hate to find out what would happen if those shorted so I dabbed a bit of rtv on them.

I have a infrared temp reader, just got to find it.

Thanks.

 

Be careful with that sensor. Hit it with PB or something a day ahead, at least. A booger of a place to have a socket muck up the hex. That happens! Make sure your socket feels right on it.

Edit..Oh....212* ? Idk maybe allot higher?......The E-an is higher, 217* or so....