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How To Bench Test A Temperature Gauge

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Your vehicle's temperature sensor is an important component of your engine's cooling system, so if you're having problems with your car or truck overheating, you lot may have a faulty sensor. Luckily, replacing a temperature sensor is equally simple every bit plugging in a new one. However, you should test your sensor commencement to make sure that'due south where the problem lies, and yous don't take a deeper issue that needs to be repaired. With your handy multimeter, yous can easily accept a few readings that volition tell you lot if your sensor is functioning properly.

  1. i

    Place your vehicle in park, turn off the engine, and pop the hood. Put your vehicle in park so it's stable and won't coil, and have the cardinal out of the ignition then yous won't accidentally daze yourself. Open up upward your hood then you're able to access your engine compartment and make sure information technology stays open.[1]

    • If y'all were recently driving your vehicle, wait nearly 15 minutes to let your engine cool downwards so you don't burn yourself.

  2. 2

    Locate your temperature sensor next to your thermostat. Follow your upper radiator hose towards the engine. At the finish of the hose is the thermostat housing. Fastened to the thermostat or installed right side by side to it is the temperature sensor which looks like a small, black device plugged into a wire harness.[2]

    • The location of your vehicle's temperature sensor may vary depending on your make and model, but mostly, it's located next to your thermostat on your engine block.
    • If you're working on a truck with a large engine, the thermostat may be located behind the metal cylinder on top of the engine block known as the intake plenum. You'll need a professional person to remove the intake plenum without dissentious your engine.

    Tip: If you're having trouble finding the sensor, check your owner'south manual or look up your brand and model online to detect where it'due south located.

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  3. 3

    Unplug the sensor and remove it from the vehicle. Utilize 1 hand to hold the wire harness and your other hand to pull on the torso of the sensor. Gently slide it out of the harness so you don't damage any of the wiring and place the sensor on a apartment working surface like a desk or table.[three]

  4. iv

    Attach the multimeter leads to the outer connectors on the sensor. On the plug-end of the temperature sensor are three connectors that look similar metal prongs. Have your reddish atomic number 82 and clip it to 1 of the connectors on the far right or far left. And then, prune your black lead to the connector on the far side across from your red pb so they aren't touching each other.[four]

    • The connectors are used to plug the sensor into the wire harness.
    • If the leads are touching y'all won't go an authentic reading.
    • Most temperature sensors have 3 connectors, but some may have v. No matter how many connectors, e'er adhere the leads to the ones on the outside to go along them spaced autonomously.

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  1. 1

    Fill up a cup or small container with ice and water. Take a clean loving cup and fill it with about 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of make clean water and add together few water ice cubes to bring down the temperature. Look a few minutes to allow the ice to chill down the water.[five]

    • The cold water will serve as a reference measurement for your sensor.

  2. 2

    Use a thermometer to make sure the water is 33 °F (ane °C). After a few minutes, use a digital or analog thermometer to accept a temperature reading of the water. If the water is effectually 33 °F (i °C), then you lot're good to go. If not, wait another ii-3 minutes to let the ice to absurd it down further, and so accept another reading.[6]

  3. 3

    Turn on your multimeter and gear up it to DC. With your temperature sensor even so fastened to the multimeter, press the power push to actuate information technology. Locate the DC setting on the punch of the sensor and plough the dial to select information technology, or select the DC setting if your multimeter doesn't accept a transmission dial.[7]

    • The DC setting will give y'all a voltage reading that you can use to test your sensor.

  4. 4

    Submerge the sensor in the water and accept a reading. Gently lower the stop of the sensor into the water until the entire device is fully submerged. Await a minute or so for the screen to give you a reading of the cold water. Once you have a reading, write down the measurement for reference.[viii]

    • A common reading for a temperature sensor in cold h2o is around v volts.

    Annotation: If you don't go any reading, try removing the sensor and reconnecting the wires to brand sure they're properly connected. Endeavor taking another reading, if you lot still don't get anything, your sensor may be broken and needs to be replaced.

  5. v

    Move the sensor to a cup of boiling h2o and take another reading. Heat upwardly roughly 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of water in a kettle or in a pot on the stove until information technology's boiling. Then, pour the h2o into a mug or container. Submerge your temperature sensor in the hot water and wait a few seconds to let your multimeter take a reading. Write down your reading so y'all can easily reference it.[9]

    • A hot water reading should give you lot effectually .25 volts.[10]
    • Brand certain the loving cup you use is able to hold boiling water safely.
    • Be careful not to burn your fingers in the hot water.

  6. six

    Compare your readings to the right readings for your vehicle. Every brand and model uses a specific temperature sensor, which will requite y'all specific readings whenever you examination them with a multimeter. Expect online for the hot and cold readings of your vehicle's temperature sensor — or check the automobile's transmission — and compare your readings to see if they closely match. If they do, your sensor is functioning properly and you lot may have an consequence elsewhere. If not, yous'll demand to supercede your sensor.[11]

    • For example, if your vehicle's temperature sensor is supposed to have around 5 volts in a cold reading, check your measurements to come across if yours closely lucifer the correct reading.

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  • Cheque your owner'south transmission for the location of your temperature sensor.

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  • Exist careful not to burn yourself with the boiling water.

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Things You'll Need

  • Multimeter (digital or analog)
  • 2 cups or container
  • Digital or an analog thermometer

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Temperature-Sensor-with-a-Multimeter

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