Water Temp Sensor Installation?

Man how about an easy question!

We will have to either find their tap or a place to tap off. I think one of the track guys might know?

LOLOLOL

I just have to remember what gen 2 car has the mod while I look in my stuff tonight when I get home.

One suggestion I think we can find a better way then Alta's instruction.

Did you get a eletrical sending unit or mechanical

John:

I got Marshall SCX electric gauges, white faced w/amber night lighting.  I have decided to go with the Cravenspeed cups because they are the correct diameter for the gauges and not bushed to fit a larger gauge pod.  Reading that NAM thread was interesting and it led me to the coolant tank drilling method, the radiator hose cutting method but oddly nobody talked about using the tee fitting in the radiator hose and putting the sensor there?!?  I hesitate to cut or drill into things without the spare replacement part on hand!  Alta says that the water is always circulating in the fill tank but the tank did not warm as quickly as that small hose on the tee.

Stephen




Edited by Soggy-1 - October/30/09 at 10:55pm

One more thing - I'll see if a Gen 2 Cooper shows up at coffee today.  I'll see if I can spot the T-stat or water pump.  Pat

Pat I don't know I was looking at the water pump last night what a mess.

Beside the issue of drilling into the tank. If you start to loose water it is reasonable to expect the temp to drop until the coolant starts to flash off into steam. Hence by the time you see a high temp it would be to late, making it not very useful.

I wonder if it would be worth calling Seattle Mini service department and asking for a recommended install location.

John

well that was kind of my thought too.

Let me Email Greg

John:

I believe Cravenspeed sells this product.  Thanks for the link! Now to figure out what size te radiator hose is BEFORE I cut into it!!!!  It would be a bummer to have the wrong size once you cut the hose...

Stephen

The setup in the exploded view, numbered 4 & 6, are the hoses in question but knowing what sizes they are is a total mystery until one of them is cut open.  I suspect that even if you took a hose from the MINI parts department the only true measurement would be the ends and not the I.D. somewhere in the middle of the hose.  That said, measuring the hose I.D. at MINI and buying a 6 inch section of whatever size it is and then buying the correct dia. adapter from prosport might be the only way and it means that no OEM gets cut.

Thanks for the link.

The parts store, i.e. MINI, was my next stop with calipers in hand for I.D. measurements!

it looks like AutoZone has some too if

one of a few choices
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/accessories/accProductDetails.jsp?displayName=GaugeAdapter&itemId=1050-10&navValue=101050&parentId=8-10&productId=867696&fromString=&itemIdentifier=867696_0_0_&filterByKeyWord=&categoryNValue=&store=3729&skuDisplayName=1or11/4in.radiatorhoseadapter&categoryDisplayName=PerformanceGauges&_requestid=1136415


Edited by johnf36 - November/01/09 at 2:43am

John:

Yes, if I cut the hose  I will measure and if I don't cut the hose  I will measure and I will post the results here.  I will also try to get photos since the digital world is so friendly!

Stephen

I can't imagine the need for a hose necked down at both ends.  The usual reason for necking down is when a manufacturer uses a standard part with one size neck and a manufacturer specific part at the other end with a smaller neck.  I like your idea of using a piece of hose  and not cutting a factory hose but be careful with the potential to kink the hoses in a tight space.  Sounds like you will be buying a hose to do this anyway, so why not just plan on buying a new factory hose if you decide to take the temp gauge with you if you sell this car.  Hoses are relatively cheap - a maintenance item, really, so I recommend not buying another hose and just cut the existing one.  You won't have any "kinking" potential, which can be REALLY bad for proper cooling.  The extra inch or so that you add can cause the original hose to kink, expecially when hot.  It might look OK when you are doing the job with a cool hose, but don't take the chance.  A warped head is REALLY expensive.

I'd offer to help, but right now my garage is undergoing insulation and sheetrocking, so my tools are banded up in plastic (I have a great radiator hose cutter - straight and quick).  I will be back in operation next weekend.

onramp:

Good luck with the sheetrock job!  It will make your home away from home much more liveable, it did for me!  The heater was a bonus too!

If I don't have to cut the OEM hose life will be good!

S.