Hi all;
I am just about to go through with fitting an aftermarket Autometer electric temperature sensor system to my FD this weekend.

I plan to mount the electric temperature sensor where the bleeder valve(?) is on the top of the thermo housing next to the water/coolant filler cap (like i have seen in several other installations).

My question is though (to those of you who have done a successful conversion like this) can you still open your water/coolant filler cap with the sensor fitted in place??

I have had a look at a couple of pictures i managed to collect off the net and it seems doubtfull that you would get enough clearance between the cap 'wings' (as they turn, when you unscrew the filler cap) and the top of the temperature sensor...

Thanks!
Sco

 

It depends on the orientation of the cap parts when they were made. Worst case, you cut off one ear of the cap.

Dave

 

yeah ive seen pics of one ear of the cap cut off.

I have a greddy one in that area, I needed an adapter but it fits perfect and the greddy one is low so theres plenty of space for the cap.

 

I put my mechanical one on the side of the housing:



That might be an option for you, depending on what else is in the way there...

 

its very easy there if you have no airpump =)

 

Thanks for your input so far dgeesaman, vrmmmpshhh, broken93. Much appreciated!

I might have to lop one of the ears off in my case, the orientation seems to be a little wrong, but hey, small price to pay for engine health!

I might also check out the sender on the Greddy gear and see how that goes. Going down the performance shop today...

I like the idea of the mech tap on the side of the housing (looks clean and trick) but im going to try and stick with an electrical sensor. My main aim is to put the analogue gauge in initially (so i have some valid temp data to work with) and then im going to replace the gauge with a digtal read out of sorts... (just 4 fun...)

 

I put my electric gauge in the same spot as broken93.

I had originally had it in the top hole like you are thinking about doing but found that I get better readings down in the coolant more.

 

I can definately see how you would get better readings down there rotarynemesis, after reading your post i was half thinking about mounting mine there too, but then i had another look at my engine bay and realised just how much crap was packed in around that area...

Dunno if it is anything like yours one, but i have a left hand drive, standard-ish rx7 and it is might packed around there!

 

its packed cos a stock car has the airpump in the way. The US guys wouldnt give a crap about emissions so they lop it off hhhee