aftermarket temp gauge? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TurboSDL · #1 05-08-2009, 12:15 AM

iv been noticing that my car is going up to 100- 105 degrees and then somtimes it drops down real fast. When i smack the side of the gauge cluster where the temip gauge is, the gauge moves to wherever it wants to, a few smacks will bring it back to where it should be USUALLY not always. Be that as it may, I still feel my car might be running a little bit hot, my question is this-

If I install an aftermarket temp gauge, can i tap into the stock coolant temp sensor for gauge pickup? the only one iv ever installed was on my 65 buick gs and it came with a sensor that went into the intake manifold and im guessing thats how the aftermarket ones come too. So if anyone knows if i can just tap into the stock sensor lmk. thanks - Jason

p.s where is the coolant temp sensor located? i see one thing by the thermostat housing , and 2 by the glowplugs about center head area.

#2 05-08-2009, 12:18 AM

Change the sensor and/or put a ground jumper from the cluster to the body and the problem will go away.

ColLonewolf · #3 05-08-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Change the sensor and/or put a ground jumper from the cluster to the body and the problem will go away.

Where is the best place to attach the jumper to/from cluster?

compu_85 · #4 05-08-2009, 11:56 AM

There is a huge grounding point behind the cluster on the body.

TurboSDL · #5 05-08-2009, 12:43 PM

i just orderd the sensor for the gauge... what one is it on the engine? theres one by the thermostat, and 2 in the mid head area by the glow plugs that i have noticed

Jerry Cohen · #6 05-08-2009, 12:55 PM

It's probably a ground problem at the cluster. Sometimes you have to remove the cluster and re-tighten the small nuts on the back of the fuel/oil/temp gauge. Not too much, just loosen them and snug them up.

The sensor can be checked with an ohm meter, unfortunatly I don't have my manual with me that shows the temp and ohms table for the sensor.

TurboSDL · #7 05-08-2009, 01:37 PM

what sensor is for the gauge tho? i kno its not the one on the thermostat but what one of the 2 on the head on the driver side is it?

#8 05-08-2009, 07:39 PM

The gauge sender is between the #2-3 cylinders. The ground wire should be put from one of the screws on the back to the ground wires directly behind where the cluster lives.

pawoSD · #9 05-08-2009, 07:49 PM

Mine does the same thing, it will rise up to 95-100C then drop back to the 85 the engine is at with a quick flick....eventually I'll replace the sensor....it reads correct 95% of the time so its not a big deal....

TurboSDL · #10 05-09-2009, 12:51 AM

seems to be ok so far, i replaced the temp sensor and waterpump since i was able to get a new 1 for 30 bucks and as of now i drove it abt 15 min after letting it idle for 30 min, i now have a downward pointing temp gauge which is sweet! its just a bit over 80 and hasnt gone up so ill let u guys kno what happens this weekend as ill b putting 300 miles on it.... i wish my odometer worked tho.... right after i bought it the odo and trip was working fine til i reset the trip odo then they bith stopped working... id like to at least have one of em working so i could calculate my fuel mileage

#11 05-09-2009, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboSDL

working fine til i reset the trip odo

Resetting while moving is a big no-no.

pizzachef · #12 05-09-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Resetting while moving is a big no-no.

I don't see how it really hurts anything. When you push the button, a little fork uncouples the trip meter from the shaft coming from the odometer (its a splined shaft/collar arrangement IIRC) and all the numbers spring back to zero. So when you let go of the button, the little spring that pushes the splined shaft or collar back to its mate is all the force that's going through the coupling, and its probably got pointed ends on the splines so it can re-engage easily. I haven't looked at the mechanism is a while, so I may be getting some details wrong, but when I had it apart, I remember looking at it and not seeing what could be damaged if the car was moving while the trip meter was reset.

If someone knows more about it, please let us know.

TurboSDL · #13 05-11-2009, 01:50 AM

is it a pain to take the cluster out? iv done it on many cars but not this one yet... i really want to know what kinda fuel mileage im getting. do the wires have enough slack to pull it out a little and look behind there or does everything need to be unplugged with no room to stick your hand? and what should i look for with the odometer issue? my cluster lights are super dim also.

pizzachef · #14 05-11-2009, 10:36 AM

Its not too much of a pain. You have to disconnect the speedometer cable and oil pressure line to pull it out enough to see anything.

http://www.dieselgiant.com/repairyourodometer.htm

You can push it out from behind like in the link above, or you can make little hooks out of coat hangers to pull it out. If you search 'instrument cluster removal tool' or something like that, you'll get some info.

iceman104 · #15 01-15-2014, 04:15 AM

I can't get my temp gauge to work.
I tried to short out the sensor by grounding the wire that runs to the cluster to the temp gauge but it didn't jump up to the hot as they said it would.

Any suggestion on how I can put in a after market gauge so I don't have to remove cluster.
Thanks

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