Hi all, new around here and to the vitara (despite the fact I own three other suzuki's lol). It is a 1992 G16B EFI model, a JLX.
In short I have a reasonable mechanical knowledge so talking technical is not an issue. I have a problem with the coolant temperature gauge not moving and I can't seem to figure out why. Background:
1) With old sensor moved the gauge around 5mm when hot so barely anything. 2) When circuit is earthed (without the sensor) to the -ive battery terminal the gauge goes right up to H so I think the gauge is fine. I then thought it was the sensor. 3) New sensor in, gauge doesn't move at all. Took the car for a decent run but still nothing. 4) Tested the new sensor by putting it in boiling water and checking the resistance - it goes down significantly when hot so I imagine the sensor is working fine.
I then suspected maybe the water pump.. perhaps I wasn't getting coolant flow hence hot coolant wasn't getting onto the sensor. It's not leaking and I can't rock the fan back and forth so the bearing might be OK. Belts are new so no issue there.
I'm scratching my head as to what to do next. When the radiator cap is off and the engine started, is there supposed to be some sort of visible flow? I am not sure if what I am seeing is just the vibration of the car, it's hard to tell. Anyone got a video of theirs perhaps, be great to compare exactly. Putting on a new water pump is no real issue, but I don't want to do it just for the sake of it.
Also, don't know if it's related or not but I can really feel the heat on my legs from the engine when driving. It's like the heater is on, but it's not. Is that normal for the old girl, or is this potentially a problem. There are no mods to the car it's bone stock apart from cosmetic changes, a snorkel and a 2" lift.
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:49 pm Posts: 1975
Vehicle: Sierras!! SWB and LWB
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 8:07 pm
My money would be on poor earth of the sensor. Check and see if there’s an unusually high resistance from the thread of the sensor (I don’t know Vits but if they’re similar to Sierra sensors then this should make sense). To the negative terminal of the battery. Only guessing here but if the motor and starter are properly earthed perhaps dirty thread where the sensor screws in?
In regard to the warm air see if there’s a plug/grommet in the firewall missing. Warm engine bay air getting into the cabin from somewhere?
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