What degrees is the OEM engine coolant temp sensor and what's it called?

[Rice Over Wheat]

I'm installing a Dakota Digital Dual Fan Controller and I'm not going to use their 0-300*F sender. I want to run a wire from the stock one to the unit so I can run my fans off that temp. However, I noticed that their digital coolant gauge which I also might want to install with the controller requires a 0-300*F sender for accuracy. What degree range is the OEM sender?

Also, what is it called? I can't find the part on any mitsubishi parts vendors.

 

[topnotchgsx]

It's simply called the water temp sender I believe. As far as the OEM's range, I am not sure. I know aftermarket guages (prosportgauges comes to mind) have ones that are like 110 degrees to like 320 degrees. Probably just buy the sender from somewhere by itself.

 

[Defiant]

I think you'd want to ask Dakota what sender they recommend. It's just a temperature-variable resistor, but I doubt that the values are standardized.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

It's simply called the water temp sender I believe. As far as the OEM's range, I am not sure. I know aftermarket guages (prosportgauges comes to mind) have ones that are like 110 degrees to like 320 degrees. Probably just buy the sender from somewhere by itself.

I thought about getting an aftermarket sender, but I wasn't sure about how this would affect the ecu's ability to calculate coolant temps. The reason being that when you calculate an aftermarket guage with their 0-300*F sender, you have to set it up so 4 to 6 points in that range line up with 4 to 6 lines on the gauge face. So I figure the ecu reads coolant temps assuming a certain range for the OEM sender. If I get a different range sender I think that could be dangerous.

Here's the sender they sell. If it doesn't matter what temp range, what size fitting is ours?:

Available water/trans/oil temperature senders fitting sizes.
SEN-04-1 - 1/8" NPT
SEN-04-2 - 3/8" NPT
SEN-04-4 - 1/2" NPT
SEN-04-6 - 12mm
SEN-04-7 - 14mm
SEN-04-8 - 16mm

Range: 0-300°F ( 0-150°C )
Resolution: 1°F ( 1°C )

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http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....tegory_id=311/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd111.htm

I think you'd want to ask Dakota what sender they recommend. It's just a temperature-variable resistor, but I doubt that the values are standardized.

Well the instructions say to use "only" a Dakota sender with the controller and/or gauge. But a Dakota tech said it doesn't really matter. Just tap the oem sender wire and route it to the controller. I can do that, but then I'd like to add their digital gauge (the digital screen on the controller doesn't stay on, you have to press a button to display coolant temp) and that requires calibration with a 0-300*F sender.

As for what sender to use, they want me to use theirs, and that's ok since it's only $25 but they don't know if I should because their company really only markets to classic domestic car owners. If I can verify that the ecu doesn't care what range the sender being used is, then I'll get a Dakota sender...but I was pretty sure the ecu assumes it's a specific range?

Here's the controller and gauge in question:

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http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....ategory_id=109/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd43.htm

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http://www.dakotadigital.com/index....tegory_id=245/home_id=59/mode=prod/prd364.htm

 

[snox135]

The ecu does care what range the sensor is. If it is not the same range your readings will be off. If you can calibrate the Dakota Digital to any sensor then do that.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

I was pretty certain the ecu goes by oem sender range. The fan controller can be calibrated to any gauge, but the gauge has to use a 0-300*F sender for accuracy. I'll post this question for Tom at dsmlink, he may know what the oem sender range is since he knows the ecu's code. I'll update once I find out.

Anyone know what size fitting the oem sender is? I can't tell just by looking at it.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

What does it matter what the OEM sensors range is and what the ECU wants... you should not replace the OEM sensor with the aftermarket sensor. You should simply drill and tap the housing to accept the new sensor. I have a extra 2G housing here at my house if you want to tap that one so it is a easy procedure for you.
What Defiant was saying is the temp sensor works by restiance... as the temp increases the resistance gets greater. The unit knows the temp by comparing the resistance to a scale. The stock sender works the same way, but the scale may be different. All senders that work like this may be different.
IE: My Summit water temp sender works the same way, but at the same resistance the Dakota Digital represents 120 degrees the summit may represent 165 degrees.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Actually I think I found my answer. Read a lot of water temp sensor installation manuals and nowhere do they mention anything about range when replacing a factory unit. I know that ohms are used to check their range and I'm pretty sure that in the case of this car, as long as it covers from say 75 to 275F any of them can be swapped in. So whether there's an oem or aftermarket sender in there it doesnt matter. I'm just going to get a 0-300 one to replace it if mits doesn't know what the range is. It's cheap anyway.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

I would highly reccomend NOT replacing the mitsu sender... leave it there. Just add in the aftermarket sender. Why do you want to replace the Mitsu sender?\

The range is not the problem, the thing is the scale of conversion for the resitance to degrees. It may be the same it may not. It may be pretty close it may be way off.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

I want to run the dakota digital gauge which requires the 0-300 sender. You cant calibrate it like an analog can to any sender. I'm going to go to mits and find out exactly what temp the oem is. Then decide from there I guess. I can always just wire the gauge to the stock sender then compare its reading to what I see in dsmlink.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

I DONT GET IT? Why dont you just leave the stock sender/sensor alone and also install the new one also. Why dont you just use two sendors (Leave the stock alone and add the Dakota Digi making 2), problem solved. Is there some reason you dont want to use two senders?

And again, it does not matter what temp the stock sender is... it could be exactly the same 0-300 but use a different resistance scale... that is what matters.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

You're not getting what I'm saying, the gauge I plan to use requires a 0-300, dakota says it and the manual says it in bold capital letters. Reason being you cant calibrate it like an analog gauge. Otherwise it will read wrong. Say the stock sender is 0-320, then the display will be off by about 7%. Yes I can use two senders but first things first. That makes no sense IF the stock sender will work. I'm going to try that first. And I am not using any other digital gauge than the DD one. I've seen them before and they are the nicest I've ever seen, glass face, auto dim, etc.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

I get that... what you dont get is say the stock sender is exactly the same at 0-300, it still may not be the same because it may use a different resistence value for say 300 then the gauge is setup to understand. You should just install the sender made to use with that gauge and be done with it. You have said it yourself that it is cheap andin the amount of time we have been talking about it in this thread we could have installed it 20 times.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Well I could if I had the gauge and sender. I only have the controller at the moment because I was figuring out how I wanted to go before I order the other parts. I'm getting the gauge already, I'll just order the sender anyway in case.

I need to fix that exhaust leak first because I still am creeping to 203*, fans on full. All that heat wrap helped a lot because I was at 220*, but that leak is killing my cooling.

 

[2gAWDTalon]

tighten the bolts....
I guess bolt tightening is routine maintenance on a well modded DSM... kinda ### but it is what it is.