The temp gauge in my 1995 Ram 1500 now goes up only half way to the 200 mark. I replace the temperature sender on the manifold which didn't correct the problem. Also replaced the thermostat. Water pump and radiator are new. Any ideas?

 

Which sensor did you replace? You have two, a two wire sensor by the thermostat housing, for the PCM, and a one-wire sensor, by the heater hose on the passenger side, for the gauge.

 

I replaced the sender/sensor next to the thermostat housing.

 

I will replace the other sensor and see what happens. Thanks for the info!

I can't find it. Is it in the rear part of the engine or towards the front? Is it in the engine block, or...??

 

They are only a couple inches apart, one behind the hose and one to passenger side of it.. As HeyYou said, you a one sensor with a single wire, and one sensor with 2 wires. The single wire sensor is for the dash and the 2 wire sensor is for the computer. It would help if you told us which one you changed as I can't remember which is in which location.

Something that I have run into is they can be quite a ways off. I tried 3 or 4 different sensors for the gauge before I got one that would read almost correctly.

 

frankie b jr - I replaced the sensor that has a two wire connector. I will have to look for the other one that controls the gauge.

 

Wait a second!!! You actually WANT your coolant temp to go higher than 200??? Somewhere in the middle of the gauge is exactly where you want it to operate, or am I missing something here?

 

To clarify: my temp gauge has always read 200 degrees (needle straight up and down on the gauge) after the engine warmed up (normal operating temp). Recently, the needle on the gauge stopped about halfway up to the 200 degree mark. I replaced the sensor/sender directly next to the thermostat housing which did nothing. Apparently there is an additional sensor/sender somewhere else that controls the gauge on the dash. Radiator, water pump, thermostat all new!

 

Follow the heater hose that goes to the passenger side of the intake manifold, the sensor is just a couple inches away. (screwed into the intake)

 

Okay, is it the one directly behind the alternator? There is a sensor there with only one wire attached.