I just got this 87 DX with 66K miles and it looks like the radiator water was never changed. How can people be like that!!! Anyway I’ve flushed the system (including the block), replaced hoses and put a new t-stat in it. The old t-stat was actually corroded/rusted/broken on the hose side. When I drove it home, the temp gauge never got up to half way even though when I got home it bubbled for ~ 5 minutes in the overflow bottle. Doesn’t that sound like it was hotter than hell or just crappy radiator cap? Why wouldn’t the temp gauge go up?
Anyway, after replacing the hose and t-stat, I started the car with the ‘new’ radiator cap off, waited for it to get hot and open the t-stat so I could add water. Finally after holding it a 1500 rpm that fans kicked on for about 15 seconds. If it idles, the fans don’t’ kick on. Bringing it back down to idle causes water to flow out the radiator neck. I was expecting the new t-stat to open.
I’ve pulled the sender unit and resistance reads ‘close’ but not dead nuts on the manual at different temp readings. Using a Fluke VOM and a Raytek IR temp gun, I’ve heated the sender unit up in a bowl of water.
The manual shows:
122F 176
154 ohm 52
I'd like to confirm with you guys that the senser readings are high and I should probably replace it? I'm not sure how close these numbers should be so that's why I'm asking. (I also grounded the wire and temp gauge goes to H)
Temp Resistance
77 735
80 650
90 525
122 250 should be 154 +/- 20
176 70 should be 52 +/- 5
190 52
212 45
Thanks!
Pat
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