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Jimmy9190
Dodge Dakota
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3/10/2008
11:34:57
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 Subject: Coolant temp sensor/ping
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Message:
I have a 2001 3.9 and put in a 180 degree thermostat yesteday to help get rid of ping. While doing that I saw that the coolant temp sensor was broken. The element was still intact but the plastic housing at the top of the sensor was broken nearly in half and I was able to pull the element right up out of the body of the sensor. I got a new one and wrapped it with teflon tape and put it in and when it got down to the last few threads it was real hard to turn. I kept at it and finally had to use vise grips to get it in the rest of the way, but it messed up the hex head on the sensor somewhat. My reasoning was the original one was screwed in all the way so this one should be too. Anybody else have this problem? I think the teflon tape just made it very hard to turn but I am hoping the sensor body is not damaged. It looks like it was made of brass which is a fairly soft metal and I hope the friction from installing it didn't damage it.
My test drive went fine, temp gauge was reading good just a shade lower than it did with the OE tstat. Heater was working fine, I had no leaks of any coolant and best of all the ping is virtually gone. It will make just a bit of noise when gunning it up a hill but is doing great the rest of the time. I put in 3923's too. The 180 tstat and 3923's in combination I hope have eliminated the ping I have been trying so many different things to get rid of.
Thanks,
Jimmy
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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3/11/2008
07:20:14
| RE: Coolant temp sensor/ping
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Message:
It doesn't need teflon tape, according to the FSM - the threads are pre-coated.
The 180 thermostat will make it run richer and use more fuel. I would have run combustion chamber cleaner instead to eliminate carbon, to reduce pinging.
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dakota49
Dodge Dakota
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3/20/2008
20:57:53
| RE: Coolant temp sensor/ping
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Message:
Mr. Lincoln, I agree with you the teflon tape probably wasn't needed. I wouldn't have tried to tighten it as much either though (the sensor) I would have used a wrench, or socket and just got it snug. That would have been enough.
I doubt if you actually hurt it though.
Good Luck
Dakota49
1988 3.9 4X4 5speed
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Jimmy9190
Dodge Dakota
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3/20/2008
21:12:14
| RE: Coolant temp sensor/ping
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Message:
I got the new sensor at Advance Auto Parts. It didn't have any sealant on its threads. The one from the dealer may have sealant, but this was on a Sunday afternoon and the dealer was closed, my old sensor had broken and I needed a new one. The body of the old and new sensors was the same length and the old one was screwed in all the way down so I figured the new one should be too. I studied it a long time and I don't know how a socket would fit. The plastic housing on top sticks out much further than the hex head on the sensor. Out of all the sockets I own, none would fit over the plastic housing and still fit the hex head. A flare nut wrench might have worked better, but I don't own any of those. I was kind of mad at myself after that little project when I found a tube of Mopar thread sealant in my tool box. Had I used that instead of teflon tape I probably would not have had any trouble. Sensor is working fine and so is my engine, so will leave it alone. The hex head is just a little boogered up is all.
Jimmy
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pete
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2008
10:09:07
| RE: Coolant temp sensor/ping
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Message:
Most cases jimmy9190 would have to move alternator out off to the side which means removiving belt than alternator and use and combo or box wrench to get at easier socket won't give you clearance that probaly why it got screwed in the first place from whoever attempted to fix it and f!d up for you to fix probaly thats why they sold the truck to you cause they could'nt deal with it the ping and replacing the sensor maybe? lucky you and good eyes found the trouble cause. And new sensor should have a coating on threads from dealer or parts store did one for a friend and threads on his had thin film of orange coating on it installed it never had all leak to this day 3 yrs now,be careful if you change it don't mess up wiring to it hate to see that PING!!! come back to haunt you LOL..
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