stock temp, pressure sensors?

**bajaBrothers** · 10-12-2007, 03:44 AM

Ok I am trying to figure out my wiring. I am using a 2003 honda vtr engine with a intelidash display.
I was looking at the stock sensors and they are as follows.
coolant temp: there are 2 sensors at the thermostat one goes to the ignition module one goes to the temp display. I have heard that you want to have your temp display after the radiator not before it. whats *up with that. should I plumb in a new one? can I use the stock one? *
Oil pressure: there is a stock one on the side of the engine *in front of sprocket. Can I use that one? I also want to install a oil temp sensor, so should that plumbed after the oil cooler (larger after market). I also have a low oil pressure sender (for a idiot light) where should that be placed?
Also any tips on gutting and rewiring stock harness would be great. Now that I think about it I'm going to start another topic about wiring.
Thanks
Oscar

**K-fab** · 10-12-2007, 03:22 PM

After gives you the "Cooled temp" - the working temp if you will. *I believe (someone may tell me I'm wrong - if I am, then do so, please) that the engine is designed to work with the "cooled temp" numbers.

Use the stocker if possible - you may have to weld a bung for the sensor on the outlet side of the rad.
Oil press - yes, use the stocker - especially if you have the stock gauges. *If you're switching to something like an Autometer pressure gauge, then just switch out the sensor. *Seems like Autometer supplies two or three pressure sensors with their gauge.

Oil temp - I would think it would be after the cooler - like the coolant. *Could be wrong, though.

low pressure - uh... *dunno!

If you can get a wire diagram for the engine, that's the first place to start.

I remove all the wire cover, electrical tape and anything that holds the loom together. *You'll end up with a rat's nest of colored wires.

Start out at either the ECU or the gauges and then start working back to the engine - you'll have to lengthen many wires, shorten many. *Do NOT use electrical tape on splices - cut the wires, strip them about 1/4" on the ends and solder - then use heat shrink. *It's a total pain in the butt, but well worth the effort.

Work each sensor individually - or each section of the loom, such as the FI section. *Run your wires in the car as you build, get them positioned and lengthened appropriately, zip tie or electrical tape them in place on the chassis and then move to the next sensor. *Repeat for each sensor or bank of sensors until you've done them all. *Once you're done, you should have a harness that has everything in place with the correct length for each item.

Now go and wrap the stuff up in loom or heat shrink or tape. * Expect to spend the better part of a couple days - it's a slow, tedious job.

If you go to a wrecking yard, you should be able to find a wire loom for an automobile that has the majority of the same colored wires - great place to get the extra wire you'll need to lengthen the lines you'll need to and keep the colors as close to the stocker as possible.

Also, label each leg that comes off the loom - i.e.: EFI, Ignition, temp sensors, etc.

You'll go from something like this:

To something like this:

Labeling:

**bajaBrothers** · 10-12-2007, 03:30 PM

Thanks K-fab
I know it is going to be tedious work (thats why I've been putting it off).
I am using an aftermarket gauge cluster called "intellidash"
The stock temp sensor that goes to the gauges is placed *in the housing for the thermostat and that is before the rad. next to it there is also a temp sensor that goes to the cdi box. *
I guess I'll just have to start and see what works.

**K-fab** · 10-12-2007, 04:43 PM

I've heard good things about the Intellidash. * Try going over to [url=http://www.race-dezert.com:1i0peu60]Race-Dezert[/url:1i0peu60] and checking in the technical sections and ask around about how others have installed the. *I know quite a few of the race cars use the same system.

**bdkw1** · 10-12-2007, 09:24 PM

The intellidash's are setup up to work with standard GM type sending units. The originals off the bike may not work.

On all the cars I have worked on (V8), the temp is taken in the intake manifold on the radiator output side. Running it off the return side from the radiator would give to much deviation due to differences in cooling from ambiente temperature changes.

**bajaBrothers** · 10-12-2007, 10:05 PM

So you are saying they take the temp of the coolant as it leaves the engine before the radiator? *Thats where the stock one is, so I'll try w/ that one and if it does'nt work I'll *switch out to the one that came w/ intellidash.
Where would I plumb a fan thermo switch? same place?
Thanks