Coolant temperature sensor

[SMOKEU]

This part has failed on my GSXR600, so the radiator fan doesn't turn on. I have tested the fan by wiring it directly to the battery and the fan does work.

I went to a Suzuki dealer, and they want to charge me $88 for the sensor, and it's only designed to start the fan at 105°C, by which time the coolant has already boiled over. I went to a few car parts stores and Budget Motorcycle Spares, and none of them stock anything like that. I want a sensor that starts the fan at around 85-95°C. Anyone know where I can get one from?

[BoristheBiter]

That sounds about right price wise from a dealer but the temp part doesn't.
My K9 750 comes on at around 85-90 but it has got up to over 100 so it sounds like your coolant/antifreeze needs replacing or at least putting better stuff in.

Just checked the service book and it says on at 100 off at 105.

If the fan won't start it could be the relay.

[sidecar bob]

The coolant will only boil over at 105 degrees if the pressure cap is faulty. For every 1psi of coolant pressure, the boiling point is raised by 4 degrees C.
With a 13 pound radiator cap, that raises the boiling point to around 152 degrees C.
Maybe the cap is faulty, not the sensor?

[slofox]

This part has failed on my GSXR600, so the radiator fan doesn't turn on. I have tested the fan by wiring it directly to the battery and the fan does work.

I went to a Suzuki dealer, and they want to charge me $88 for the sensor, and it's only designed to start the fan at 105°C, by which time the coolant has already boiled over. I went to a few car parts stores and Budget Motorcycle Spares, and none of them stock anything like that. I want a sensor that starts the fan at around 85-95°C. Anyone know where I can get one from?

The fan on my gixxer 6 comes on around 105C - no boil over involved at that temp.

[tigertim20]

+1 on checking the cap.

[nodrog]

Have you been riding it fast enough to get up to temperature?

[SMOKEU]

Have you been riding it fast enough to get up to temperature?

Yes I have been. It only cooks when moving at a very slow pace or when I'm stopped at a traffic light. Shutting the engine off isn't the solution because then it won't start again until it cools down, but that's probably starter motor related (very common problem on the SRAD).

So, does anyone know what pressure rating I should look for in a radiator cap? It's a 1998 SRAD.

[Fast Eddie]

turn it off at on at traffic lights and u might be susceptible to heat soak anyway?

can't go wrong with replacing it with a factory suzuki part - must have worked before ;)

you could always just fit a switch, turn it off and on when u decide

[neels]

Try an auto electrical shop, they should have a range of sensors available, maybe even one that fits in the hole correctly.

I had a temp sensor go faulty on my duc, I pulled it apart and resoldered the connections from the sensor to the connector pins, has worked fine ever since. It's fan doesn't turn on until around 100°C either.

[sidecar bob]

Jusy buy a Corolla cap from Repco for $15. Same thing.

[onearmedbandit]

You say the fan doesn't come on by itself? What temp has the bike got up to during riding? My fan on my SRAD750 didn't come on until about 105d, on the thou it's about the same, 105-107.

[SMOKEU]

You say the fan doesn't come on by itself? What temp has the bike got up to during riding? My fan on my SRAD750 didn't come on until about 105d, on the thou it's about the same, 105-107.

The hottest I've ever seen the temperature display go up to is 108 before I shut the engine off, and the fan never came on. I have since replaced the radiator cap with a 15psi model. I rung up Suzuki and they said the factory cap is rated at 15.6psi.

I'll wire up a switch to the fan at some stage as I can't afford the $88 to replace switch.

[sidecar bob]

I'll wire up a switch to the fan at some stage as I can't afford the $88 to replace switch.

Cant afford $88 to repair your motorbike? You should seriously consider buying a bicycle.

[BoristheBiter]

The hottest I've ever seen the temperature display go up to is 108 before I shut the engine off, and the fan never came on. I have since replaced the radiator cap with a 15psi model. I rung up Suzuki and they said the factory cap is rated at 15.6psi.

I'll wire up a switch to the fan at some stage as I can't afford the $88 to replace switch.

By the sounds of it you can't afford not to.

[SMOKEU]

Cant afford $88 to repair your motorbike? You should seriously consider buying a bicycle.

I already have one that I use every day.

[Fast Eddie]

I already have one that I use every day.

oh..
you're one of those twats riding 3 abreast in your lycra outfit?

[SMOKEU]

oh..
you're one of those twats riding 3 abreast in your lycra outfit?

Fuck no, I hate those lycra wearing faggots who think it's acceptable to block the roads while riding their push bikes.

I ride the push bike because it's a lot less likely to get stolen than the motorbike, and I can leave the push bike locked up all day without having to worry if some cunt is messing with it.

[bogan]

The hottest I've ever seen the temperature display go up to is 108 before I shut the engine off, and the fan never came on. I have since replaced the radiator cap with a 15psi model. I rung up Suzuki and they said the factory cap is rated at 15.6psi.

I'll wire up a switch to the fan at some stage as I can't afford the $88 to replace switch.

So how do you know what temperature it is up to? Surely the margin of error is more than a few degrees, you might find it gets to fan turn on temp when you are reading 115.

You might also be able to find the same part form another model a lot cheaper. They are just a ground-switch that screws into the thermostat right?

[SMOKEU]

So how do you know what temperature it is up to? Surely the margin of error is more than a few degrees, you might find it gets to fan turn on temp when you are reading 115.

You might also be able to find the same part form another model a lot cheaper. They are just a ground-switch that screws into the thermostat right?

Well, the coolant starts boiling over when the temperature gets to about 105°C. I have since replaced the coolant and radiator cap, but I haven't ridden the bike since I've done that.

There's a threaded hole in the radiator where this sensor screws into, and it connects directly to the fan.

[bogan]

Reckon its a good bet the replacement cap will have fixed it then.

[onearmedbandit]

Yup if it's boiling at 105 the cap must have been suspect.