Thetastycat

Hey all - I've got a 95 with a motor from a 97. Recently after a bunch of other work the temp gauge has started to read high, but the guys at the garage (I was desperate) insisted the motor was running at normal temp. I replaced the almost-new temp sending unit as well as the actual gauge in the instrument cluster but it's doing the same thing. Today when I tried the new temp sending unit, I noticed the plug that goes on the sending unit looked a little dirty, almost like it was a little bit burned up. Seems like the only thing left that could be wrong is the wiring from the sending unit; can anybody tell me where that wire ends up so I can run a new one? Or is there a way to test the existing wire?

Sure appreciate it!!

bluejeep2001

When you say a 97 motor...you mean head also or just the block. The 97 head should not have the hole at the back to accept a 95 gauge temp sensor , and your temp gauge is not wired to accept the signals from the front sensor and computer like in a 97 . What kind of temp difference are we talking about? The system runs on inverse resistance...as temp goes up, the resistance drops so a " burned " up wire usually means high resistance which should read lower temps....unless it has burned off the insulation and is now shorted to the block or some other piece of metal then it would read high...very high

Thetastycat

I ran the numbers off the block and it came back to a 97 motor, but it's definitely got the hole and sensor in the rear for the temp sending unit. Heck if I know - but the shop swears it's running normal! They thought it was a bad gauge, so I tracked down a new instrument panel, swapped the gauge out, and same thing. So I replaced the temp sending unit (again) - same thing. Kinda running out of options. Right now it's reading just lower than redline for normal operating temp - it's not the end of the world since I know what "normal" is, but I would like it to read normally!

Thetastycat

SOLVED - I read elsewhere here that very often the replacement temp sending units you get at the parts stores are very poor in quality. WELL I CAN ATTEST TO THAT since I tried THREE of them and they all read borderline overheat, though the motor was running normally. I ordered an OEM one, Mopar #56027012, and it's working like a charm. Just got it in tonight and temps are looking good - hoping things will stay that way in a few months when it's really hot!

BTW it took a slightly different-sized socket than the cheapos - I think they were all 9/16 and the OEM one took a...13mm? They both threaded into the hole in the motor just fine but funny that they're slightly different.