So today I decided it would be a good day to install the new heat exchanger. The guides on this site were great, but it was the biggest pain in the ass job I think I've ever done. Long story short, I finally got everything in place and everything seems to be okay except for:

1. My temp gauge reads "---"
2. My SC gauge is reading about 17hg at idle. That seems kinda low to me, but I'm new to this type of crap. I'm a rotary head.
3. So when putting in the headlights at the end of the night, I realized I had an extra green connector coming off the headlight/fog light harness. I couldn't figure out what the **** it was, and I was too damn tired to wait to put it back together, so I put the headlight back in. Is this the source of my "---" temp gauge reading?

Hopefully these aren't n00b questions. But I'm tired, and I need a beer. Cheers!

 

The green connector goes into the headlight bracket.

 

**** -- that was quick. Thanks....but where does it plug into? I didn't see anywhere on the bracket itself. It was only on the driver's side too. What is it's purpose in life?

God help me if I have to take that damn headlight assembly out again.

 

look under the headlight bracket.

 

it just clips into the headlight bracket. i dont think its used for anything

 

Hmm......$10 says it has something to do with the damn temperature gauge. Any takers?

I guess we'll find out. Time to take the f'ing headlight assembly out, for the 3rd time today. I love it.

 

its relatively easy to get the headlight out. take out the 2 clips where the grille hooks up and take out the 2 10mm bolt holding in the headlight. stretch the bumper to the side a little and take the headlight out. those two clips off of the grille make it so much easier when they are off!

 

i really dont think it has anything to do with the temp guage.

 

Surprisingly enough, it did! Once plugged in, it went from "---" to 45 degrees. Who would have though. Well, now we know

Okay, beer time. I've had enough of this damn car for today. Tomorrow we install some shifter bushings and then run the **** out of her and see what water temps we come up with.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

well remember that your coolant temp gauge will not read any lower than before. do you have an interceptor scan gauge?

 

Yeah, I'm aware of that. I have a scanguage 2. I have it for when I track the rx8 since it's oil temp guage is non functional unless there is a problem. Plus seeing water/intake temps is a plus as well as reading codes. Tonight with a 50 degree temp it was reading water temps between 179-182, which is normal. I still need to top off the coolant since it's still low, but all in all I'm happy with today's mod.

Next will be my dual pass endplate, 60# injectors and 2.8 pulley + tune. Then I may be looking at tracking the balt during a few summer sessions to see if I'll like a FWD track car. Not sure how I'll react to the "pull" factor as opposed to "push". Putnam should put it to test though.

 

sweet. after a hard 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear pull, your IAT2's should be around 140 max.

 

well, sweet! good job on that, ill remember if i ever come across this problem