Okay I have a 96 ram 1500 with a 5.2 v8. My motor blew up and i got a new motor that came outta of a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee witch had the same 5.2 v8. But I had to change somethings around on it now for my problem.. On the motor i took outta my truck i had a Coolant Temperature Sensor and a Air Charge Temperature Sensor. Now That is what i believe they are they where both located behind the Alternator. The jeep motor only has one spot to put a sensor and if i put the temp sensor in the truck does not run i have to put the air charge sensor in for it to stay running and idle right. But now I don't have a Temp gauge and don't know what my temp is. i have got a aftermarket temp gauge but don't know where I could install it at. I need help either a way to get the old temp gauge to work or the new aftermarket one. Hopefully someone can help me and sorry if it sounds confusing but that is the only way i know how to explain it. Thank you all so much..

markellingsworth102@comcast.net

 

On the 96, the 2 sensors by the alternator are both for coolant temp. 1 for the pcm and one for the gauge. On later models like the 98 motor you have, there is only one sensor by the alternator that performs double duty. Both motors have the air charge sensor located on the passenger side of the intake manifold towards the front.

 

s^ that's your problem, your truck expects both temp sensors to be installed in the manifold.

you have a couple of options.
one is to remove your 98 manifold and reinstall the 96.
the other is to creatively install your missing sensor anywhere in the engine side of the thermostat.

you could drill and tap a hole.
you might could install a connector in a heater hose, and install the sensor in that connector. that would be the easiest thing.

 

The problem is DV , IIRC those two sensors screw into the block,not the manifold. So maybe T'ing the one, so the other can also be installed. Or maybe there is a plug in the 98 that can be removed. The second sensor is located more towards/under the AC compressor and he just has not seen it(due to it being filled with dirt or something.

 

damn you made me go out in the rain and look.

no, the intake extends forward all the way over the front edge of the block. remember the little rubber gaskets on the front and rear edge of the intake set?

the coolant sensors, t-stat housing, air temp sensor, heater hose pipe, and wp bypass all mount to the intake. my 01 has a TINY little hole for the temp sensor. probably only 5/16" threads. i thought about the T off of it, but since its so small, i think it would be hard to T and it wouldn't be in the water flow.

since i'm lazy and prefer to do as little work as possible, i'd try to make to buy a connector for the heater hose and try that first.

 

trying a pic here.

 

LOL, your right. I just got back from the garage and they do go into the manifold. So basically there might be a plug in the one to the right of the thermostat.


Actually, the best thing to do would be to swap manifolds and replace the plenum plate while it's off.

 

surely to hell he replaced the plenum plate while he had the motor out.

 

Some how, I don't think so.

 

your best option would be to swap manifolds

and for some reason, the one sensor is called a coolant switch, i know, my old one was corroded and fell apart when i disconnected it during the plenum fix