Gauge questions

[68F250]

Yeah $50! and believe me I tried every possible year sender and brand from every auto supply store before I bit the bullet.

[71 LONG BED]

Still can't believe it!

[Supermike]

Thanks, 71LB... I'll stop at Advanced on my way home tonight. It's pouring rain, so I'm thinking I won't be able to do anything outside.

68F250, I'm still not clear on what the problem is with the off-brand sensors. You said they read high, but how high? I don't want to think I'm overheating all the time, but is it worth that extra $40? Has anyone else had this issue? I DID read something similar on a cougar website (google), but am just curious. Will the novice like me really notice?

[68F250]

The problem is we need to use a specific sensor for '66 thru '68. It's not a matter of being genuine or a knock-off. The sensors for '69 and later read too high, both the genuine and knock-offs. And it's like 50% too high iirc.

The auto parts stores either don't carry the correct one or else they list one that is wrong for our years application even though they say it's equivalent to the C6DZ part.

It's not just the trucks, cars have the same problem. I found that Cougar board with the same sensor issue, 4 pages. Hey they paid $60, guess I got a deal.

[Supermike]

What's the life expectancy on these? If I drop the $60 at http://www.fordpartswebsite.com, can I expect it'll last a while?

[68F250]

Should last a very long time, mine's got over 10 years so far. Two things I know that can kill it are severe overheating and a direct hit with a pressure washer.

[cjs_72f250]

i've had really good luck with RockAuto.com - you can drill down to your specific truck year and engine and find many parts for it. They call it the Coolant Temperature Sensor as well as the Coolant Temperature Sender.

price ranges between $5-8

i got a new sending unit for my temperature and the gauge began working just fine. good luck.

[Supermike]

New sending unit (Borg Warner brand) obtained from O'Reilly tonight. Cost: $7.00. They did not have any other makes in stock. Advance had none in stock, but could have ordered me one. Autozone could not figure out what I wanted.

Anyhow... put it in (those puppies are TIGHT) and my temp gauge now works!

For $6, I figured I'd give it a shot.

One again, THANKS!!

[68F250]

Glad you got one that worked!

Maybe they're making the right one now.

What's the BW #?

[Supermike]

I believe it is WT324 (for gauge), but I'll have to check the box to be sure... I just recited the "C6DZ-10884-B" part number to him, and it came back with three matches... the BW, the Motorcraft (not in stock), and another. The one Advanced had was AC Delco.

This one looks pretty much exactly like the original, and unlike the AC Delco which is silver colored (nickel coated brass?), this one was pretty much all brass. I think I got it in there pretty good, as I didn't realize the threads did not need to go all the way down in there. Then I looked at the old one. I didn't force it, per se, but it's got some muscle behind it.

I haven't really gotten the engine hot to see how high it goes, but after running for about 5 minutes it had moved to about 1/4 the way toward the middle. Before replacing, it didn't move at all.

[Supermike]

Confirmed... the BW part # is WT324.


If you plug that part # in on this page, you'll get much better pictures of what the sensor actually looks like, from 3 different angles. Good quality, as far as I can tell.

[68F250]

Thanks!

Curious to see if it's accurate or reads high like the others.

[Supermike]

No problem... I appreciate the help and info from you and 71 LONG BED.

One thing to note if you use that link and look up the part #, is that the application for "Ford F Pickup" is listed as 65-69. So it may be the right thing instead of a one-size-fits-all.

By the way, I also confirmed my ammeter is working. After installing the sensor last night, I fired up the truck and had the lights and stereo on. I then watched the ammeter as I gassed it, and my dash lights would actually brighten up just a bit and the ammeter needle would move toward "C".

I also found Keith has some good info on the ammeters on this page: http://www.fordification.com/ammeter.htm

[71 LONG BED]

I'm glad you got it working. Should have looked here before I asked in the other thread. I'm happy I was able to help. It doesn't happen as often as I would like, but now and then I can put my 2 cents in and help. After all the info I've recieved, it's nice to be able to give back once in awhile.