Hello, I am looking into installing an aftermarket temp gauge into my 1997 Dodge Ram with the 8.0 engine. I cannot find out exactly where the gauge has to be hooked up onto the the engine. I was thinking where the stock temp gauge sending unit threads into the thermostat housing but I want to be sure. Any help I can get would be much appreciated. Thanks and have nice day

 

That would work just fine, provided that it will actually screw in there. Is your electrical gauge not working?

The problem there though is: The PCM also gets its cue from that sensor, and without it, the engine probably won't run....... (PCM will always think the engine is -40 degrees..... and it will DUMP fuel hoping it will burn.)

 

Here is how it all started. I had to change my thermostat and a couple hoses. When I went to pull the electrical line from the temp gauge sending unit on top of the thermostat stat housing and it broke. So, I bought a new temp gauge sending unit sensor and a coolant temp sensor as well. I figured if I am replacing one, might as well do the other. The gauge was working fine all before this, but now it does not move. I tried my best to run the electric lines back to the gauge to see if it may be grounding out somewhere and I checked all of the fuses in the cab and the engine bay. I am getting nothing.

 

Wiring diagrams show only one sensor. You have two??

 

Yes, according to my Haynes manual, there is a temp gauge sending unit and a coolant temp sensor for the pcm. This link should take you to an autozone link that show the top of my thermostat housing.

 

Ok, interesting. Wonder why they did it that way.......

Are they both two wire sensors? Does it run right? Are the sensors both the same??

 

No they are not the same. One is long and skinny after the threads and the other is stubby and fatter. The coolant temp sensor has 2 wires running to it and the temp gauge sending unit has one wire running to it. It seems to run fine but I just do not like running it and not know what temp it is at

 

But they're both 2 pin connectors, correct? Did you swap the plugs by accident?

 

No, one has two pins and the other has one pin.