Which Temperature Sender is Best

[mark69sportsroof 31]

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering what brand of temperature sender is everyone using.  I have a FE 390-4V. The car has the factory tach and gauges.  Is one brand better than another?  

Thanks Mark

[Brian Conway 264]

The after market senders are notoriously unreliable.  I searched for and found a nos sender for my car and have not had any problems.   I should also mention that I rebuild the entire cooling system as well.  Brian

[barnett468 418]

yeah, nos or used orig from ebay.

[mark69sportsroof 31]

Thanks Brian and Barnett.  If I read the chart correctly I would need the C9WY 10884-A (SW 888).  Thanks Mark

[barnett468 418]

8 minutes ago, mark69sportsroof said:

Thanks Brian and Barnett.  If I read the chart correctly I would need the C9WY 10884-A (SW 888).  Thanks Mark

 

you should also check the temp just behind the t stat housing with an infra red then look at your gauge to see where the needle is so you have a reference point.

[mark69sportsroof 31]

Barnett, thanks again for recommendations.  I checked ebay and didn't see any available.  Mark  

[Dave R. 85]

Try allclassicmustang.com for your sender. They have lots of used and NOS parts.  Dave R.

[mark69sportsroof 31]

Thanks Dave.  I haven't heard of that website.  I will check them out.  Mark

[mwye0627 44]

On 5/13/2017 at 10:58 PM, barnett468 said:

yeah, nos or used orig from ebay.

When people say the aftermarket sending units are no good, is it because they quit working, or are they inaccurate with a stock gauge???

I have been developing custom gauges for older muscle cars, but I use modern digital technology to drive miniature stepper motors like in many modern cars, and I can write the transfer function for any sending unit as long as it is repeatable. I have also found sources for thermistors which would thread into the intake manifold like a stock sensor, but they will not read correctly on a stock gauge.   I'm looking for a repeatably accurate aftermarket sending unit that I can use so my customers could find an aftermarket source if necessary...

Thanks,

Mike

[mqu02 30]

4 hours ago, mwye0627 said:

When people say the aftermarket sending units are no good, is it because they quit working, or are they inaccurate with a stock gauge???

I have been developing custom gauges for older muscle cars, but I use modern digital technology to drive miniature stepper motors like in many modern cars, and I can write the transfer function for any sending unit as long as it is repeatable. I have also found sources for thermistors which would thread into the intake manifold like a stock sensor, but they will not read correctly on a stock gauge.   I'm looking for a repeatably accurate aftermarket sending unit that I can use so my customers could find an aftermarket source if necessary...

Thanks,

Mike

My experience with aftermarket sending units is that they are very inaccurate.  I have tried a few of them and their resistance values are off from the factory ones.  I have only tied them into the factory gauges though, and the last one I had read way too hot.  I then found a used factory one in an old intake manifold, installed it, and it fixed the problem immediately.

[moodster 55]

Mike, the resistance values are off consistently with the aftermarket sending units.  You can fix the issue by putting a resistor inline but not many people want or know how to do that.  The original senders do go bad from time to time.

david