Ski-Doo Temp Guage

wtrepani

New member
OK, taking this problem down one thing at a time. First, I have a 97 Formula 583 with a non-working temp guage. I have replaced the temp sending unit, pulled the thermostat and tested it by heating it up and making sure it opened. I also tested both the new and old temp sending unit by heating up and hitting with a continuity tester. Nothing while cold, good while hot. I pulled the gauge out and tested with a battery charger, tops out at 12V 12A, goes about halfway 12V 2A.

I think I have the system burped good, I get no more air coming out of the bleeder on top of the gooseneck with the front up about 2.5 feet. I checked continuity between the guage and the TSU and it seems ok.

I did notice that when I check cont between those two, when I test the yellow wire to the harness right before the hood wire, it comes though on all four wires in the harness and one in the other, but I thought this "may" be normal if it's a hot wire. wasn't sure if green or yellow is the feed. The green wire only buzzes through to one wire.

Any ideas what else to check? Is it possible to put the thermostat in backwards or wrong where it would restrict coolant flow to the TSU? I assume it won't register well with only hot air in it. My cooling fins heat up pretty hot so I assume I am getting good flow through the thermostat...

Any suggestions would be appreciated. The shop can't look at it for a couple weeks and my wife isn't happy :(
 

jimfsr

New member
Sound like the sender is working ok (it should if it is new) The guage works by 12v pos to the guage and gets its ground through the TSU. As the TSU heats up, the resistance changes and allows a better ground (lower resistance) to get to the guage, allowing the needle to sweep up. If you can tap into the wire from the TSU to the guage, you shoud see the needle swing if you give it a ground. (engine running). The resistance of the TSU should change as the engine heats up too. Like your static test. The temp guage is basically a OHM meter with temp #s instead of resistance #s.
I dont think the thermostat can go in upside down. You can test by feeling the hose that runs out from the head to the rear by the airbox. The coolant will flow through it when the thermostat opens. The coolant flows through the motor in a closed loop untill it is warm enough.
 

wtrepani

New member
The hose coming from the motor heats up but I dont "feel" the coolant going through it.

I did try taking a 12G wire and shorting the two plugs at the TSU, just unplugged them from the sensor and hooked them together and didn't get anything. I did notice I only get about 10v at the gauge, not the full 12. This was just by putting a multi-tester on the two bolt-terminals on the back of the guage.

I don't see any pinched or rubbed wires anywhere, though they are mostly wrapped in tape or the plastic conduit. Do you know where the power source is for this, maybe I can test the output there and see if it's a wiring or source issue?

I'll try posting to DOOTALK as well to see if there are any ideas there.

Thanks!
 

jim

New member
i had a 98 formula 583 that had the same problem, if i remember right it ended up being a connector, the wire was not making contact with the pin that was crimped on the end, i ended up just cutting the connector out and splicing the wires together. i hope this helps and i wish i could remember more but that happened awhile back and i don't have that sled anymore to go look at it.
 

jimfsr

New member
I believe the guage gets its power from the yellow common power wire in the guage pack area. I should be 12v in. If you unplug the wire from the TSU and put the volt meter between the frame and the post, it should be 12v. It may be less at idle though, stator may not put out 12 v till 2500+ rpm.
 
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