1997 190 Roadtrek 3500 5.9L gas
The old sensor shows no resistance on multi meter. Van was built in Canada and the only similar sensors were listed for foreign cars. Is there any alternative?

 

It's a ram van with a 5.9. Dealer should have the correct sensor, either that, or most any parts store.

 

Checked on line with all auto parts stores, none carry identical sensor. The ones that do list a sensor for my vehicle show a sensor with a different configuration, one that does not look like it would work on my van. The one on my van has the threads on the end with no protruding post. I believe the threaded end is a 3/8in diameter. Connecting end has two posts rather than spades. The closest dealer is in another town.

 

Two pin sensor? Or just one?

Your van should actually have two temp sensors. One for the gauge in the dash, (single wire, toward passenger side of intake), and one for the PCM, (two wire, right next to the thermostat housing.) Which one is giving you issues?

 

Two pins. It is the only one I could locate. Some diagrams do show a connection on the front or a sensor located next to the thermostat but that is not the configuration on this van. Those configurations probably do use the more standard sensor with a protruding post.

 

Do you have the stock van gauges in there? Or something from the conversion company?

Think I might be tempted to buy the stock sender (two pin), and a factory pigtail for it.....

 

I don't know whether the gauges are stock or conversion. The van was built at the Canadian factory. The problem is that the end of the sensor is the threaded part and is only 3/8in diameter with no protruding post.

 

Maybe just a different design.... In order to work with the Dodge PCM, it would still have to operate in the same range as the stock piece.

I suspect the gauges are stock.... I don't know of any aftermarket conversion company that delves that deeply into the chassis they use.

 

The only solution, that occurs to me, is to have the hole re-drilled and threaded for a standard sensor with the pigtail, as you suggested. Would that result in metal shavings in the coolant and cause problems? Alternatively, would it be possible to use a coolant hose adapter and why do some find it necessary to re-drill the hole, I'm assuming, in the adapter?

 

You shouldn't actually need to re-drill the hole..... it's just a standard stock manifold, isn't it? Could you post some pics???