[C320-list] Engine water temp problem -SOLVED!

[Graeme Clark]

Nothing wrong with gauge
Nothing wrong with sender
I bought a new terminal connector block, cut back all the wires 1/4 inch and bared new copper and remade all the connections (finishing by applying a conductive non soluble gel [contralube 779] to protect from future corrosion)
I also cleaned and remade several connections to instrument terminals
All now working fine - boat electrics  remind me of old VW cars - it's usually a corroded contact!
I also took the opportunity to fit a new ignition switch that has an Accessory position as well as an ON position. To the ACC terminal I wired the blower, so now I can run that when the engine is off without the low oil pressure alarm screaming at me!
Anyway - moral of the story is this:-
If you disconnect something to work on it and when you reconnect it it doesn't work properly then FIRST thing is check integrity of electrical connections!

Graeme
#366, 1996, Jaskar


Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!


> On 9 Apr 2017, at 03:19, Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net> wrote:
> 
> Graeme,
> I recall that some aging antifreeze over time could tilt toward becoming
> acidic and even attack certain metals, seals or gaskets and that activity
> could introduce some gunk into the engine cooling system and increase engine
> temps. Given the small cost of a sender, I replaced mine before I discovered
> that I had pinched the lead and that was causing the gauge to peg. The new
> sender began to read an even lower temp once I discovered the cause of my
> gauge pegging. 
> To reduce cooling system issues I try to replace/refresh a portion of the
> antifreeze every three years. 
> Rick
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Graeme Clark
> Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2017 1:19 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Engine water temp problem
> 
> Rick
> Thanks for the tip but the gauge does "climb" as the engine warms? it
> doesn't go straight to max reading!
> I haven't yet had a chance to troubleshoot further. Possibly tomorrow if
> it's fine weather as I want to start by cleaning up all contacts. 
> My gut feeling is the most likely reason for a problem is because of
> something I did rather than a random failure whilst the boat was laid up
> over winter  - it would be odd for a temp sender to fail when it sits in an
> unused engine for six months, surely!
> All options will be explored though!
> Graeme
> 
> Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!
> 
> 
>> On 8 Apr 2017, at 15:34, Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Graeme,
>> If you did anything with your wiring over layup you could have a sensor
> lead  grounding and pegging your gauge. For example, several years ago I had
> my valve cover off to adjust my Westerbeke valves and inadvertently pinched
> the temp sensor lead when the cover was reinstalled and that caused my temp
> gauge to peg.
>> Rick
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Onat Dogruer
>> Sent: Friday, April 07, 2017 11:17 AM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Engine water temp problem
>> 
>> On a side note, I just replaced the 18 year-old Johnson water pump (with
> same model Johnson pump) on our Yanmar and the temperature is not going
> above 160. It used to hover around 170F. I wonder if they improved somehow
> the efficiency. 
>> -OnatKittiwake #546, 1998
>> 
>>     From: Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 2:20 PM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Engine water temp problem
>> 
>> Our boat was about 10 years old when the temp sender unit failed.  A
> replacement was ordered from Yanmar for about $20 US 7 years ago and
> installed in about 10 minutes.  Problem fixed.
>> 
>> Allan S. Field
>> Sea Shadow - C387, #103
>> Columbia, MD
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Graeme Clark
>> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 1:14 PM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Engine water temp problem
>> 
>> First time I run the engine this year the water temp gauge goes off the
> clock!
>> I therefore bought a point and shoot laser thermometer and sure enough the
> engine temp ( measured where the sensor is and also at fuel injector points)
> is around 170f whereas gauge is showing 280-290f
>> 
>> So it's the sensor or the gauge. How do I test the sensor.  There is only
> a single terminal so I'm guessing the resistance changes with temp. Does
> anyone know what resistance should be at say, 170f ?
>> 
>> Or is there a simple way to test gauge
>> 
>> I did have the instrument panel out this winter to repair the lid so it
> could be a dodgy connection I guess. I'll check everything again but any
> more info would be handy as I'm stuck on boat with limited internet access!
>> 
>> Graeme
>> #366, 1996 running Yanmar 3GM30F
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from mobile: please excuse typos etc.!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
>