3800 temperature sensor fell into the hole? (Page 1/2)
longjonsilver JUL 05, 09:24 AM
i have diagnosed my faulty temperature gage as being the sender. So i bot a new one. Looked exactly the same as the old one. i tried to quickly put the new sensor in the hole of the old one and it seemed to slip down into the motor. i put my finger into the hole and something appeared to move inside. So i tried the old one to see if it would drop down into the hole as well. And sure enuf it started to go down into the hole. What is going on here? What am i missing? Is there an inspection port for the flywheel that i dropped my sensor into?

So i used my flash on my phone to take a pic of the hole.

jon

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Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.

Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.

I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

longjonsilver JUL 05, 09:45 AM
Sure enuf, there are two holes. Where did my temp sensor go? Down into the clutch flywheel area? Any ideas?

jon

------------------
Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.

Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.

I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

phonedawgz JUL 05, 01:25 PM
Yep. Pull the inspection plate/starter and see if you can fish it out. An extending magnet might help. but I am not sure the sender is made of steel. Brass isn't magnetic.
Dennis LaGrua JUL 05, 03:30 PM

quote
Originally posted by phonedawgz:

Yep. Pull the inspection plate/starter and see if you can fish it out. An extending magnet might help. but I am not sure the sender is made of steel. Brass isn't magnetic.



Great idea. With the inspection plate and starter removed (disconnect battery first!!!) a flex magnetic pick up tool may work. That's a magnet on a long flexible rod. I believe the sensor base is steel so it should work. . With a bit of luck it may come out. Might also try rotating the engine slowly by hand using a wrench, small prybar or big screwdriver on the flywheel teeth. Sorry to hear about the mistake but we all make them.

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longjonsilver JUL 05, 08:25 PM
Thanks guys.
The sender is not magnetic. Some have suggested using hot melt glue on a stick. i managed to move it using a bent wire. Didn't spend much time trying. Gonna try more tomorrow. Jelly2M8 sent me some pics of a spare motor he has and it appears that there is no way for the sender to fall down to the bottom where i can fish it out by removing the dust cover. Sooooo i have been looking for my hemostats.


jon

------------------
Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.

Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.

I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!

Dennis LaGrua JUL 05, 09:24 PM
You might want to try a flexible claw pick up tool. The type that uses a flexible shaft, you press on a button at the top, the prongs open, you put them on the object, release the button, the pick up tool grabs on, and you pull it free..
Claw pick up tool
Skybax JUL 08, 11:18 PM
I have one of those tools and I don't think it has a strong enough grip for weight of that sensor. I like the glue on a stick or coat hanger idea, maybe take it a step further and use something thick and strong like liquid nail, let it setup/dry over night and then you will have a good bond to try and puzzle it out the next day.

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 07-08-2021).]

TXGOOD JUL 09, 10:15 PM
I think all 3800s have that hole.
I know mine does but the sender doesn`t go there.
It goes right under the thermostat housing.
Spoon JUL 10, 10:05 PM
My eyesight isn't what it use to be but that hole appears oval in shape and thread-less as well. I've got to be missing something, right?
If you can't get it fished out perhaps leave it there. Squeeze a little high temp J-B Weld on it to keep it from rolling around and call it a lesson learned.

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

longjonsilver JUL 11, 09:02 AM

quote
Originally posted by Spoon:My eyesight isn't what it use to be but that hole appears oval in shape and thread-less as well. I've got to be missing something, right?
If you can't get it fished out perhaps leave it there. Squeeze a little high temp J-B Weld on it to keep it from rolling around and call it a lesson learned.



The hole is round, and is indeed threadless. Why is it there? Dunno, but it trapped me. i wud never consider leaving it there. i spent 1200 canuckbucks on my flywheel, machining and clutch, and bolts. Allowing a 40$C sensor to damage them is a no go.


i have now separated the block from the tranny by about 1cm (3/8") and still cannot see the sensor. My wife claims she can feel it. So i will let it sit for a while to let her try again. The block and tranny are being held in alignment by 5 long bolts. It took me 7 hours to drop the cradle and slide it out to the side, including over an hour to get the front cradle bolts out. I have no rust on my car. It will probably be 12 hours or more to reinstall the cradle and hook everything up.

i spent two whole days cleaning up my wiring (84 car) cuz i made the mistake of running the wiring to the drivers side. Its now nice and neat.

jon

------------------
Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.

Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.

I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!