(Home) Temp gauge

Just Got My Townace and temp gauge does not work possible conection or wires does anyone know where the sensor is on the engine
1.6EFi And what model engine is it please any ideas?? - (#855) Chris Rowan, 21 Aug 01

Should be a single wire going to the thermostat housing, or thereabouts, the sender has a spade terminal on it. The engine type will be on the VIN plate under the drivers' seat, but it's probably a 3Y-E?? - (#856) David Miller, 21 Aug 01


hello people i would like to get a temp gauge fitted i havent any idea how to do it.but if some one can tell me where i can get one fitted i am prepared to travel,if any one can do it for me i am happy to buy it and help with the job and pay who ever can do it for me i just want to get it done asp if any one can help i would be very greatfull..i live in newtown mid wales..thank you inadvance for any help you can give.
regards...john.. 01686 626672

- (#7057) jo, 10 Feb 03

where r u jo?

- (#7166) J adgo, 10 Feb 03


hello everyone thanks to this site ive just got my hands on an 89 4x4 2.o td townace had lots of faults so got cheap ie naf turbo ,air con not working,lights ,locks etc etc..have replaced tempsender 1and 2..that fixed air con..but no life in temp gauge it is working ie goes to roof if earthed out ..have i missed something .another sender anywere perhapse...any help gladly recieved....by the way my job ...mot tester .macanic.

- (#8456) mark, 14 May 03 17:39

I've already answered this one for you, you tacked the same question to another thread a few days ago... l/h side of the head, under the manifold, near no.3...

- (#8457) david miller, 15 May 03 1:26


Hi got a 4*4 towny 1990 auto diesel thinking of fitting a more sensetive temp gauge with alarm,would it be poss to mount it in place of the useless compass which is mounted on the dash like an afterthought,and in place of the ground level indicator thingy, fit an oil pressure gauge, which would be more use to me, as i am not planning to cross the sahara. has anyone done this? while i remember what is the little red button next to the gear shift,anyone?

- (#10685) rob clayton, 1 Sep 03 17:21

Check out the 'audible alarm' on the AceAnswers site at the top of the page - I have recently been made aware that it not only sounds when the temp gets too high, but it also makes the Toyota gauge read correctly - mine will be ordered very soon!

It would seem to me that the box for the compass/level gauge would be the perfect place for auxillary gauges.
I think they are fully contained within the box, so removing them shouldn't be a problem. I would think finding gauges to fit the holes would be more hassle.

The red button is a transmission selector unlock.
You may have noticed that you can not move the selector out of 'Park' without your foot on the brake - you can if you press the red button. that's it!

Dave.

- (#10686) DaveW, 1 Sep 03 20:31

Hi Rob
I have recently fitted a temperature gauge in place of the compass. Its a reasonable place to put it but, the angle isn't perfect, I can see the temperature reading and the bottom of the 100°C mark, but the top right hand side is a little obscured because the dial of the gauge is recessed behind the glass.

Inside the outer plastic housing is a white plastic inner, mounted on a metal table. As I was only planning on removing the compass, I removed the plastic facia and used a hole cutter to remove the bit where the compass was. Care is needed here as the plastic is brittle and prone to cracking. The white inside plastic section had to be cut away to allow enough room to accommodate the back light and wires at the back of the gauge. If its cut right, it gives a nice base to secure the gauge to it as well. Most importantly, remove the clinometer. Its fragile, and if its left in place whilst removing parts of the housing, the peg that holds it front facing will break off. As you are planning to replace both, it may be better to get a twin housing for your new gauges and try to fit it at a better angle. I don't know how that would sit on the dash though as its all sorts of levels in that area. Alternatively, you could use a windscreen pillar mount from Demon tweeks. A useful tip from John Davis is to take a permanent live feed, rather than a switched feed. That would give an indication if the engine sweats after turning it off. I must admit though I have not seen this yet on my new gauge.

I decided on this option, rather than the audible alarm because my engine was already in bits so replacing the temperature sender was easy to do, and my local auto parts shop had one in stock for £24. Although it gives an accurate indication of the temperature, it still has to be looked at frequently. The audible alarm from Dave Mason would reduce this a bit. How a bout it Dave! can your alarm be fitted to a Durite or Tim gauge without affecting the reading?

dave Bright (bournemouth)

- (#10687) dave Bright, 2 Sep 03 1:44


I recently had an overheat, replaced the rad cap and now seems OK. To be on the safe side I bought a Durite gauge which I want to fit in place of original. I've removed the fuel/temp gauge module but not sure what to do next without breaking anything. Any advice would be appreciated

- (#10792) Dennis Johnson, 19 Sep 03 12:11

Dennis. I mounted my Durite within the instrument recess and I left the old Toyota gauge in situ. I can email you a picture if it would help.
The Toyota gauge now does nothing of course but, I have a vague plan to mount a second sensor somwhere and get this gauge to register, say, rad header tank temperature.
I think that someone has mounted a Durite as a replacement dial for the compass but, this inclinometer/compass nacelle is only fitted to some models.
I have got used to the Durite mounting and it is very easy to see. To dismantle the existing gauge and replace it with the insides of a Durite might be a bit complicated but, I think, David Miller might have done this.

- (#10793) John Davis, 20 Sep 03 3:20

Thanks for the reply John. Reading about David Miller inspired me to dismantle the instrument panel but I'm not sure how to interchange them and David doesn't explain how he did it. I've seen your photo on the web site thanks.

- (#10794) Dennis Johnson, 20 Sep 03 15:42

dead easy to interchange. Pull cluster apart, remove screws holding fuel and temp gauges. Remove gauge needle and the two screws holding the temp gauge assy to the scale/ dial.
Strip durite gauge- the bezel will work off with a screwdriver. Remove needle and dial, then the screws holding the movement into the case.

If you invert the durite movement, it's fixing/ terminal screws match the Toyota cluster in order and position! Place it in position and fit the three screws. Now, for a neat job, find a way of filling the screw holes in the toyota gauge dial. IIRC there's enough room to just put the screws in and secure them with a blob of glue from the rear.
Refit the fuel gauge and dial over the temp movement and replace the three screws. The original toyota needle can now go back onto the temp gauge. I can't quite remember, but you might have to ream out it's hole gently with a hot needle or similar.

Place cluster back in dash, and fiddle with needle to calibrate as per your requirements before refitting cluster front glass...

- (#10862) david miller, 24 Sep 03 2:24

Don't forget, owners who haven't gone the Durite route, the Ace Answers temp gauge mod. It doesn't offer exact calibration in Deg C but you can see the temperature going up and down, it's a whole lot easier to fit, and it has the bonus of an audible alarm which you set to alert you that it has gone above "normal".

- (#10885) Dave Mason (Sussex), 26 Sep 03 3:33

I went the Tim gauge route whist replacing a cracked head, and even though I have more confidence in the replacement gauge, it still needs looking at. Overheating, god forbid, could still happen in the blinking of an eye, so I have also got a modified version of Dave Mason's alarm. This is a bit belt and braces I know but I now have a gauge I can rely upon to indicate the exact temperature, and an alarm if it all goes wrong the moment I take my eye of it.

- (#10886) dave Bright, 26 Sep 03 4:39