[timbeam]

My old temp sending unit was causing my gauge to read too high. (I verified it was not correct be temporarily installing a mechanical gauge) I bought a new TSU from VA Mustang and installed it over the weekend. It is even worse!! It reads over the 'C' before I even start the engine. All the other gauges read correctly so I don't have any reason to suspect the gauge voltage regulator.

Midlife had suggested I get a Ford TSU. How can I get one of these? I suspect that all the Mustang Parts houses are selling the same one.

This is REALLY getting to be a pain!

 

[bluefinger]

Try Napa, I don't believe the last one I bought was a Ford unit, but it is accurate. I believe this is the correct sender. Have them cross reference it just to make sure.

 

[bchampion]

Tim, you can try www.fomoco.com Have you verified that it is not your gauge, wiring or voltage regulator? I had a similar problem and I discovered it was my gauge that was bad.

 

[bluefinger]

bchampion has a good point. You can use your oil or fuel gauge to check the accuracy of the temp gauge by moving the sending wire from one gauge to the other.

 

[Mach1Don]

Along the same lines--I read a post a while ago about NOT using teflon tape when installing the temp sender--Any one confirm this?--PM me with some info

 

[timbeam]

I DID use teflon tape. That's the first I've heard about that.

 

[Midlife]

I'm the guy who says not to use teflon tape. Here's the reason: the ground for the TSU is from its threads into the block. Now there's a lot of folks who have used teflon tape and don't have a problem, but from an electrical point of view, there is a *possibility* of a poor ground. That will increase the resistance of the circuit, and cause a higher than normal reading.

I like the idea of swapping the wires on the oil sending unit and the TSU to isolate whether the problem is in the gauge.

 

[RagTop]

Tim. I had about three senders in my 302 before I stopped using the ones from either NAPA or Kragen and bought an OEM unit. I looked for a Ford but all I could find was an AC Delco. I worked and continues to work. The replacement parts are pieces of garbage. BTW, Midlife has provided me the first logical sounding argument against using teflon tape on the senders. I still have teflon tape on mine but maybe that was a contributing factor in the bad ones I had.

 

[Teebone]

Make sure you are using the correct sending unit..there are two types..one for idiot lights and one for cars with guages..I had this problem and it drove me nuts, my temp guage would peg way over to hot..and the engine was still cool..I even went the teflon/no teflon tape route..nothing worked until I installed the correct sending unit