Okay, I'm literally at my wits end with this crap, so I need your guys' help.

My temp gauge has never worked since the day I bought it and I've been loosing antifreeze like crazy through the goose neck of my truck, so I replaced the gasket and bought a new clamp. Anyways - I'm having a hard time figuring something out - my gauge doesn't work, so I go to Napa, ask the lady for a temperature sensor because my gauge never worked. She grabbed me a sensor that was $25, and I left.

Now I'm looking at the sensor behind the alternator with one prong, and I have a sensor from Napa with 2 prongs. Where's the other sensor?! Which one do I need to replace? Did I get the wrong sensor, and need to go back for a temperature sender??

 

The single wire type is a direct wire to the guage (or bulkhead connector). The two prong type splits and one wire goes through the computer (orange/white?), and the other goes to the gauge.

 

Negative.

The 2 wire sensor is for the PCM only and the single wire sensor is for the gauge only.

 

Ummm, that's what I said (with exception).

EDIT: I reviewed my schematics, and I am going to go with my original statement.

FSM for the 95' states in section 8W-40-8 that a violet and yellow wire goes directly to the guage. The pre 91' has 2 wires one of which goes to the ECM and the other goes to the gauge. I will say that I do not have the 96' FSM and am figuring on the 95' to be an accurate representation.

To the OP: Yes, she gave you the wrong sensor, because she is a saleswoman and not a mechanic.

 

Your original statement is wrong for a magnum, the PCM sensor does not interact with the gauge at all, if it did, there wouldn't be 2 sensors. And yes the violet and yellow wire is for the single wire sensor that goes to the gauge.

 

The sensor for the gauge is actually called a sender unit. Since you asked for a sensor she gave you a sensor which is for the computer. You asked for the wrong part. Ask for a coolant sender unit. Look at the diagram.

 

^ That gave me a good chuckle my good sir!

Anyways, thanks everyone for the help - I actually managed to get ahold of someone at Autozone after I realized that it was in fact the 'sender' that I needed, and not the 'sensor'. They were still open and I got it for like $10, compared to the 25 I spent on the wrong one... luckily, it's returnable.

And special thanks to Crazy4x4RT for the diagram - it was of great help, sir!

I dunno what I would do without you fellow Dakota fanatic's...

 

i know what i would do...i'd cry at a broken down vehicle in my driveway...lol

 

I hear ya man, I hear ya!