Engine Temperature Indication

[sailorboy1]

My engine temperature pegs high within a few minutes of operation. The engine isn't overheating, but the gauge reads high. It goes to around a reading of 160 as soon as the key is turned on and then just goes up.

So do you think the problem is the gauge or the sender, or both, or something else? Maybe the needle just needs to be removed and remounted.

The last owner says it has always done this. Since he got this boat new I don't know why he ever would have accepted the problem. He says the alarm works, but I feel all he really knows is that the busser works (low oil pressure during start-up) and I doubt he tried to heat the temp alarm sensor to find out.

On another related topic; this was suppose to be corrected per my purchase agreement and it of course wasn't and they are not responding to my request for updates on doing so. So if anyone is buying a boat from Advantage Yacth in Newburyport MA and has something they need to fix be sure money is placed into escrow so that maybe they will fix it.

[MarkSF]

It could be either the sender, gauge, or wiring but it shouldn't be expensive to fix.

[DeepFrz]

Search for posts by Gord May that give resistance readings for the different senders. It sounds more like the sensor than the gauge if it goes to zero when the key is turned off.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...der-11882.html
I'm such a nice guy, I did it for you...

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Search for posts by Gord May that give resistance readings for the different senders. It sounds more like the sensor than the gauge if it goes to zero when the key is turned off.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...der-11882.html
I'm such a nice guy, I did it for you...

Thanks. I had already done this and read that thread. Which doesn't mean I can not ask for experience opinions in case someone has seen the excact same problem.

[sailorboy1]

So ................ it only took the yard guys 3 months to start to think about fixing my problem (was part of my purchase agreement).............then another 1-1/2 months to replace the sensor, which wasn't the problem............then another month to replace the gauge, which fixed the problem

So 5-1/2 months to a small problem engine temperature indication repair type item. I don't know how a boat could ever hope to complete a refit if this is what it normally is like to get something done.

Wonder if the real goal was to see if they could wait me out to the point that I just did it myself?

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

So ................ it only took the yard guys 3 months to start to think about fixing my problem (was part of my purchase agreement).............then another 1-1/2 months to replace the sensor, which wasn't the problem............then another month to replace the gauge, which fixed the problem

So 5-1/2 months to a small problem engine temperature indication repair type item. I don't know how a boat could ever hope to complete a refit if this is what it normally is like to get something done.

Wonder if the real goal was to see if they could wait me out to the point that I just did it myself?

Why didn't you just fix it yourself?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

Why didn't you just fix it yourself?

Because they were suppose to fix it as part of the boat purchase. Why should I have to spend my money to do it instead?

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Because they were suppose to fix it as part of the boat purchase. Why should I have to spend my money to do it instead?

Because then it won't take 5 1/2 months.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

Because then it won't take 5 1/2 months.

whatever, remember that next time you want something fixed under warranty!

I onoy posted the answer so people who search on the same problem got to see the answer

[Dieseldude]

Hi Don,

The fact that the guage is moving from zero to maximum tells me that the guage itself is likely ok and just getting an incorrect signal. That leaves the fault in the wiring or sensor.


I had a similiar problem with my truck. I cleaned up the connections on the sensor, but that did not help. Later, I was looking under the dash board doing another job. Found a ground wire off. Reconnected it to a good ground point, and my temperature guage was back to normal. Maybe you have a similiar ground problem. Ground troubles can be hard to troubleshoot, so perhaps that is why the previous owner never got it fixed.


Have a good look at your wiring before replacing the meter or sensor. Also keep in mind that the sensor could be designed to get its ground connection through the cylinder head. Perhaps remove the sensor and examine the threads on its base and threads in the head for corrosion and clean these, and put the sensor back. Start the engine and see if the guage starts reading correctly. If the trouble really existed since new though, perhaps it is not caused by corrosion, but by thread sealer insulating the sensor from engine ground, so clean off any thread dope. Also have a look at the wiring in your guage panel. Could be a corroded or loose connection.


Dieseldude

[David M]

Put an ohm meter across the sender. This will give you sense if it is the sender, wiring or gauge.

[Kettlewell]

Guys, Don said the problem was finally fixed by the yard! In my experience this is a major problem with the boating industry--customer service is nearly non-existent. I've heard about these mythical great mechanics and boatyards, but I find you have to hover over any mechanic or boatyard like a hawk to make sure they actually do things right. To be fair, I have occasionally found a great mechanic and if you do too I suggest patronizing him/her, but don't expect this to be the norm. This is why I gave up long ago (I have bought and sold many boats) trying to get repairs of anything included in a purchasing contract--much better to negotiate a lower price and then either use your selected people to work on the boat or do it yourself.