Does anyone here have an aftermarket temperature gauge like autometer? Or know somebody who does?

If so do you know what size thread is needed on the fitting to retain the sender?
Or will the stock retainer hold the autometer sender?

I know it's a metric fitting, and the guage comes with standard fittings, so I have to get a seperate adapter, unless the stock one will fit.

My car is in California and I'm in South Dakota so I can't take these measurements myself. I need to drive the car back, but don't want to do so without a temp gauge and mine ain't working. I replaced the sender and checked for a signal to the gauge (there is one) but the gauge just wasn't working. That's why I left it in Cali.

Anybody who could help, I would appreciate it very much.

 

You could probably call Autometer's tech line for a quick and accurate response. (815) 899-0801

 

Thanks for the response.

In case anybody cares, NISsport carries an adapter that plumbs into the coolant hose and the sender from an autometer temp sender just screws right in. Theres a ground screw so the gauge will work. It uses the 1/8" NPT that comes with the gauge.

Incase anybody else is planning this mod. I don't have the time to search out a metric fitting.

 

Is it sort of like a t-adaptor that goes inline with the hose?

 

Yeah. It's the same diameter as the hose except the barbs are slightly smaller to fit inside. You just cut out a piece of the hose and put the adapter in. The sender then screws right in. The problem with Tee adapters not made for this, is the sender doesn't protrude far enough. With this one, the sender screws down in it and sticks plenty into the coolant stream.

Oh and I also figured out what was wrong with my gauge. I felt pretty stupid after this one.

Last night I was in the shower and it dawned on me. When I bought the car the previous owner had stripped out one of the bolts that holds the thermostat housing on. Not thinking about it, I epoxied the housing on as a temporary fix thats lasted almost two years now. (Hey if it works)! Duh. The housing wasn't grounded, so the sender wasn't grounded. I called my dad and had him run a wire from the housing to the head. He said the gauge started working as the car warmed up.

Sometimes you just have to step back and realize you're overlooking the simpler things.
Hey like anybodys whos spent enough time around cars has never stressed over a problem that just ended up being a blown fuse. Or was that just me?

 

It's not just you, bro. Trust me, I would still own my '90 Pontiac Sunbird Turbo if I knew the main bearings were still in good shape, and it was actually the turbo that was fried.

 

Sunbird Turbo?? Thats not stock is it?

 

Oh, that's stock alright. Came with the 2.0 SOHC inline-4, Garrett T25 (aka. T-"too small") snail, and a close-ratio 5-speed. It was an option, along with the 2.8 V6, 3.1 V6 (which only came with an auto, so I hear), 2.5 "Iron Duke" OHV inline-4 (All-cast-iron, baby!), and the shitty 2.0 SOHC non-turbo.