Water gage don't work... 1994 chevy van.. v-8... the sending is OK... it has a 2nd wire that goes somewhere in the fuel systen.. so if I put in a mechanic gage.. it only has 1 wire.. so the engine will run rough... so... if I put in a T and hook up the mechanicl gage and let the orangial in also... will they get enough hot water in the T for them to work?


Thanks for looking and for your in put... richard

Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensors have two wires going to them, while the ECT Gauge Sending Unit has only one wire. Don't confuse these components. If the ECT Sensor is not hooked-up properly, the van will be difficult to start and gas mileage will plummet.

Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensors have two wires going to them, while the ECT Gauge Sending Unit has only one wire. Don't confuse these components. If the ECT Sensor is not hooked-up properly, the van will be difficult to start and gas mileage will plummet.

When I put in a new water temp sending unit.. there was no change... the gage did not work... when I put in a after market mechanical gage with the oringial un hooked... the engine ran rough.. when I put the oringial sending unit in.. the engine runs great... what other ECT are you talking about ? Engine runs great not with the oringal sending unit in but the gage don't work... thats why I was thinking about using a T and hooking uo a aftermarker mechanical gage... thanks for your time... richard

There is a engine coolant temp sensor that sends information to the ECM... this is the ECT that TexasGreaseMonkey is talking about.

There is a engine coolant temp sensor that sends information to the ECM...this is the ECT that TexasGreaseMonkey is talking about.

OK thanks... can you answer the other question... so I can see the water temp and still leave in my oringal? Tks... richard

Leave the original sender hooked up. Forget about it. Next, go out and buy a temperature gauge that comes with a sending unit. Find a place somewhere in the cooling system where there is a plug---sometimes the thermostat housing has a threaded plug in it... remove that plug, install the new temp sender and hook up the gauge. Just completely forget about the original... it doesn't work so just put in an aftermarket. You may have to make some kind of fitting for both senders off a Tee but the original sender needs to stay in the original circuit.

Leave the original sender hooked up. Forget about it. Next, go out and buy a temperature gauge that comes with a sending unit. Find a place somewhere in the cooling system where there is a plug---sometimes the thermostat housing has a threaded plug in it...remove that plug, install the new temp sender and hook up the gauge. Just completely forget about the original...it doesn't work so just put in an aftermarket. You may have to make some kind of fitting for both senders off of a Tee but the original sender needs to stay in the original circuit.

Looking today... thank you.. if I can't find another plug or hole to use... I have a Tee ready to go in... you think I'll get enough water in the T.. for them
To both work... I know water will get in to the T but it won't be cirulateing.. thrugh the T just kind of be hot water in the T.. which may be OK... I don't know... thanks... richard...

I believe that it will give you a temperature reading that you can monitor. If the engine gets too hot, it will show on the gauge. Good Luck