teddynorton

Ive been working on an engine swap on my 1993 xj. Got a good deal on a 97tj motor with low miles so swapped it out and everything is good except my temperature gauge wont work. My 93 motor has a plug for the sensor at the back of the engine head and in 97 they changed the location and plug style so the sensor wont plug in. Ive heard of drilling and tapping the engine head or relocating temperature sensor onto the thermostat housing and drilling and tapping there. I have seen where people use a T fitting with an adapter to put between coolant hose and putting the sensor there. Has anyone encountered this problem if so any help would be appreciated. Even if you havnt done it any imput would also be appreciated.

DFlintstone

Yea, that comes up alright. I'm pretty experienced and might drill the head. (also I might be sorry if I did!). Of course you can always get another housing if drilling that goes wrong. Probably a good way to go. A heads up, in the housing water always circulates in one chamber, but only in the other when the t-stat is open. IIRC, that's unfortunate because it has to stick out funny, where as it goes more neatly in the wrong place. (there's even a flat)

OR, (see photo). Since it is tapered pipe thread, (and needs that tap), I was wondering about over on the outlet. (see the white spot). I checked and is seems the iron and aluminum housings are the same thickness. Without having done it, I was thinking it might go there in an iron T-stat housing. Just my .02!

****, wrong again! It needs to be on that little flat to the right of the bolt to read correctly with the t-stat closed.

teddynorton

steiger makes a kit where you cut the radiator hose and put a t adapter in the hose. it seems as though it would be the easiest route. my only concern is it is reading the temp after it circulates out of the engine. I dont know how accurate that reading will be and since i only have an electric fan overheating might be an issue untill i install a second fan.

djb383

I'm really confused....do we have a '93 motor and '97 XJ or the other way around? LOL. Coolant always flows thru the heater hose the moment the motor starts......it only flows thru the radiator hose when the t-stat open. One of these in the heater hose close to the t-stat cover would be an option.

http://trailtech.net/tto_temperature.html

DFlintstone

Hey, neat djb. Anyway waz thinking. I myself, personally might put it there where I marked the outlet with the white tape. A stock sensor for the gauge/light ends up out of the way, and I really don't care what is says when the T-stat is closed anyway...but that's just me!

DFlintstone

Yea..you need a fan! (unless you are flyen). The AUX comes on at like 218*!

I only disable mine for going under water, and I don't go under water much.

djb383

If one drills a small hole (1/8" or less) in the flange of the t-stat, temp gauge/sending unit mounted in the t-stat cover would probably be accurate, or very close to it, regardless if t-stat were closed or open. Use caution around the t-stat cover as the fan blades are really close and could easily eat sending unit wires.