Alright...about 2 weeks ago I finally got my jdm sr20 running in my 92 SE-R. I have had problem with the car's temp gauge going to Hot, so i pulled over for 30 mins and then slowly made the trip home. During the install, I did not switch the Temperature gauge sensor or the sending unit. Partly in fact because I didn't know there was a difference in the jdm sr20 and the usdm sr20 sensors. I have been searching and can't find an answer. I know in the general area where the are located (on the back of the block below the intake manifold.) But I still have no clue as to which ones it is. Can anyone help me.....pictures would be greatly apreciated. BTW, I am about to go outside and install a new thermostat.....just to be on the safe side....

They are the two sensors side by side behind the Oil filter. One is just a spade type plug the other is a regular plug with the anoyying metal clip. Mine didn't work at all till I changed them. They look they same but for some reason the JDM ones wouldn't do anything.

yup, I did a jdm swap as well, my temp guage was all over the place, from hot to cold and back, whenever it felt like it. They are to the right of the oil filter up behind one of the intake tubes, kind of a pain in the ass to get too, but ya just gotta. When I finally swapped mine out everything was peachy. Its a JDM/US incompatability..

Just a guess but I think they are sending the temp in metric, when we need it the other way..lol

Good luck

any kind of tip or tool need to pull these bad boys off and replace them....i kinda wish my engine was outta the car again...it was so easy to work on....finally got my pacesetter header on....boy...the car pull reallly hard 5k+......i got a slight exhaust leak....but oh well....more for the "TO-DO" list tommorow morning when i get up!

The small one just takes a 12mm socket. The problem is first getting the clip off the other one and then getting to the other one. I removed the oil filter and used I think a 3/4 inch wrench to get to it.

thanks buddy....

Hey I just realized you where the one that wants to look at that guys car. Let me get it since I helped you.:cool:

Right.....i can own 2 sr20 powered cars right?;)

You only need to replace the sending unit with the single spade connector (for the gauge). The ECU sending unit is exactly the same (same part number).

FWIW, I've found the JDM sending unit has the same sweet spot, but is just more sensitive (I haven't changed mine yet - getting used to it).

so it's just more sensitive? Then why has everybody else with a jdm engine not swapped their's out? I guess i will leave mine...i dont mind more sensitive stuff....is the jdm thermostat any diff than the us one?

Originally posted by NissanGuy01
so it's just more sensitive? Then why has everybody else with a jdm engine not swapped their's out

Because it always seems to indicate overheating. Since I have installed a double row radiator, I rarely have this problem. I would change it out. I plan to change mine eventually, but I've kind of learned to live with it.

Do not drive your car if your gauge is saying it's overheating. You never know. It might be.

well it used to indicate it was overheating....i topped the mixture off with some more water and put on a TTZ radiator cap....it doesnt indicate overheating anymore....mosty says cool(not cold) and then eventually moves to the middle...

Originally posted by NissanGuy01
well it used to indicate it was overheating....i topped the mixture off with some more water and put on a TTZ radiator cap....it doesnt indicate overheating anymore....mosty says cool(not cold) and then eventually moves to the middle...

That's what mine does. I've learned to live with it. Make sure you bled the head really well.

Boy, am I glad I found this post! I was starting to finally get the car in the shape I was hoping for, then tonight at the Burger King drive through I notice that my temp guage is way off the charts!

What! And I was just raving about the jdm engine I bought cheap at watanabes.

So the sending unit needs to be replaced? How much does something like that run, and do I need a single/double spade one?

Whew! I was just on the brink of not liking this car when that happened, but all is cool again (no pun intended). ;P

GameDay

Since I've done my swap my temp sending unit connector sometimes starts to get loose. When it does my gauge get eradic and the needle starts dropping to cold as the rpm's increase. Also ever since then I put in a new radiator thats all brass with metal endtanks, My fans havent come back on what should I do about this. Can I hardwire them in to a manual switch? And I wanna get a temp guage where do I hook those up at? Are they electronic or do they use a temp probe? Where would I tap it in at safely. I also have a ttz rad cap,no a/c so the condensor has been removed. Would that let that much more air in to the radiator that it stays cool enough to not kick the fans on? I cant even get them to come on with the a/c fuse pulled and button on. This is so weird.

You can get water tempeture gauges in mechanical or electical configurations.