Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting my temp sensor on instrument don't work

ill check tonight. sorry didnt see this post till this am.
but i will check.
as far as the grounded part i think i know what you are talking about.
when i was replacing the rear 02 sensors i noticed a cable that was grounding something but couldn't figure out what i was grounding. ill take a look tonight and let you know.
chris

Since the Dash temp gauge reads high, the Temp sensor with the single post is the one to replace. Mine read high after it overheated and when I replaced it (along with the waterpump), the dash gauge read fine.

i cant find this instrument deal.
is there a diagram out there that someone can post and show me where this is located???

so does anyone know where this is..?

Temp Sending Unit - from the front of the engine, look down with a flashlight just to the right of the Duretech cover. Make sure engine is cool. You should be able to squeeze your hand down in there to remove the electrical connector, and get in there with a box end wrench. When removing, keep in mind that coolant will leak out some so you must be quick to put the new one in so as not to make a mess. Also make sure to use some dielectric grease on the end of the connector.

NOTE: there are two versions of this unit. Sometime in 1998, they changed the connection end of this from a single blade to a double blade (pictured above). Make sure you get the right one.

COOL!!! i was right!! i looked in there the other day , took off that connector. looked at it and i was right!
now i need to order the unit itself and replace it.
Once again thanks to CEG!!!!
you guys rock!
chris

i replaced the sensor today but had trouble at autozone finding my part. apparently on my 1998.5 contour the sensor is different than what the computer at autozone says.
the pic of sensor before is not the right one. it had to pull up a sensor of the 1997 contour. was only $14.99 !!! so after i replaced it temp gauge was fine. on my old one the little "stem" part was wobbly.
so fyi on the part.




here's the part # if needed -
-autozone
wells TU205

Just to be clear, this is the ECT, not the temperature sender:

I replaced my ECT today and it's a b**ch to get to. It is located about halfway down on the driver side of the engine, facing the firewall. From what I understand what it does is sense the coolant temperature, and the computer adjusts the spark & fuel and such based on that (and many other) reading.

I've been having higher than normal temp readings and it's been taking longer to start than it used to, so I'm hoping replacing the ECT will help.

I think the connector was similar to the harness from a Fuel Injector, on the Dependable Zetec at least