How To Check Temp Sensor With Multimeter

Download Commodity

Download Commodity

Your vehicle'due south temperature sensor is an important component of your engine'due south cooling system, so if you lot're having problems with your car or truck overheating, you may accept a faulty sensor. Luckily, replacing a temperature sensor is equally uncomplicated as plugging in a new one. Notwithstanding, y'all should test your sensor first to make sure that'due south where the problem lies, and you don't have a deeper issue that needs to be repaired. With your handy multimeter, you can easily accept a few readings that volition tell you if your sensor is functioning properly.

1. 1

   Place your vehicle in park, turn off the engine, and popular the hood. Put your vehicle in park and so it'south stable and won't coil, and take the primal out of the ignition so you won't accidentally shock yourself. Open up your hood so you're able to access your engine compartment and make certain it stays open.^[1]

   • If yous were recently driving your vehicle, wait about xv minutes to let your engine cool down so y'all don't burn yourself.

2. two

   Locate your temperature sensor next to your thermostat. Follow your upper radiator hose towards the engine. At the end of the hose is the thermostat housing. Attached to the thermostat or installed right next to it is the temperature sensor which looks like a small, blackness device plugged into a wire harness.^[ii]

   • The location of your vehicle's temperature sensor may vary depending on your make and model, but generally, information technology'due south located next to your thermostat on your engine block.
   • If you're working on a truck with a large engine, the thermostat may exist located backside the metal cylinder on top of the engine block known as the intake plenum. You'll need a professional person to remove the intake plenum without damaging your engine.

   Tip: If y'all're having problem finding the sensor, check your owner's manual or expect up your make and model online to find where it'due south located.

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Unplug the sensor and remove information technology from the vehicle. Utilize 1 hand to hold the wire harness and your other mitt to pull on the trunk of the sensor. Gently slide it out of the harness and so you don't damage any of the wiring and place the sensor on a flat working surface like a desk or table.^[3]

4. 4

   Adhere the multimeter leads to the outer connectors on the sensor. On the plug-end of the temperature sensor are 3 connectors that look like metal prongs. Take your red pb and prune it to ane of the connectors on the far right or far left. Then, clip your blackness lead to the connector on the far side across from your red lead so they aren't touching each other.^[four]

   • The connectors are used to plug the sensor into the wire harness.
   • If the leads are touching you won't become an accurate reading.
   • Most temperature sensors take 3 connectors, but some may accept 5. No matter how many connectors, always attach the leads to the ones on the exterior to go on them spaced autonomously.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Fill a cup or modest container with water ice and water. Take a clean cup and fill it with about 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of clean h2o and add few ice cubes to bring down the temperature. Wait a few minutes to allow the ice to chill down the water.^[5]

   • The cold water will serve as a reference measurement for your sensor.

2. 2

   Use a thermometer to make sure the h2o is 33 °F (i °C). After a few minutes, use a digital or analog thermometer to have a temperature reading of the water. If the h2o is around 33 °F (1 °C), and so you're good to go. If non, wait another ii-three minutes to permit the ice to absurd information technology down further, so take another reading.^[6]

3. iii

   Plow on your multimeter and set it to DC. With your temperature sensor notwithstanding attached to the multimeter, press the power push button to activate it. Locate the DC setting on the dial of the sensor and turn the dial to select it, or select the DC setting if your multimeter doesn't have a manual dial.^[7]

   • The DC setting will requite yous a voltage reading that you can use to exam your sensor.

4. four

   Submerge the sensor in the water and take a reading. Gently lower the end of the sensor into the water until the unabridged device is fully submerged. Look a minute or then for the screen to give y'all a reading of the common cold h2o. One time y'all have a reading, write downwards the measurement for reference.^[8]

   • A common reading for a temperature sensor in cold water is around 5 volts.

   Notation: If you don't become any reading, try removing the sensor and reconnecting the wires to make certain they're properly connected. Endeavor taking some other reading, if you still don't go annihilation, your sensor may be broken and needs to be replaced.

5. 5

   Move the sensor to a cup of boiling water and accept another reading. Heat up roughly 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of water in a kettle or in a pot on the stove until it's boiling. Then, pour the water into a mug or container. Submerge your temperature sensor in the hot water and wait a few seconds to let your multimeter have a reading. Write downward your reading so y'all tin hands reference it.^[9]

   • A hot h2o reading should give you around .25 volts.^[10]
   • Make certain the cup you use is able to concur humid h2o safely.
   • Exist careful not to burn your fingers in the hot water.

6. 6

   Compare your readings to the correct readings for your vehicle. Every make and model uses a specific temperature sensor, which will requite yous specific readings whenever y'all test them with a multimeter. Await online for the hot and cold readings of your vehicle'south temperature sensor — or check the motorcar'due south transmission — and compare your readings to run across if they closely friction match. If they do, your sensor is functioning properly and you may accept an upshot elsewhere. If not, yous'll need to supersede your sensor.^[eleven]

   • For example, if your vehicle's temperature sensor is supposed to have around 5 volts in a cold reading, check your measurements to meet if yours closely match the correct reading.

Advertisement

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

• Check your possessor's manual for the location of your temperature sensor.

Advertisement

• Exist careful non to burn yourself with the humid h2o.

Advertisement

Things Y'all'll Need

• Multimeter (digital or analog)
• 2 cups or container
• Digital or an analog thermometer

Virtually This Article

Cheers to all authors for creating a page that has been read 103,152 times.

Did this commodity assistance yous?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Temperature-Sensor-with-a-Multimeter

Share this post