Defender 19j to 300 tdi conversion temp sender

Recently purchased a 1988 defender 90 that has had a 300tdi engine fitted in place of the 19j. It has the typical problem of the temp guage sitting just below the red as the 19j gauge and 300tdi sender dont work together.

What sender do i need to buy or does anyone know if i can fit a resistor? if so what ohm?

Cheers

I was under the impression that the gauges were the same up to 300tdi?
So if it's a Disco 300 engine then you need a defender 300 sender.

Ive done a few 19j to 200tdi conversions years back and every time the 200tdi sender sends the 19j gauge into the red at standard operating temp. Im sure the 300tdi is the same. You cannot fit the 19j sender either as its a completely different size.

Is a 300tdi defender sender different to a disco one then?

just get a proper mechanical gauge that actually tells you the temp.
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/product.php/209/water-temperature-gauge-capillary-type
job done and no reliance on wires/electrikery................................

I dont really want another gauge in the cab as before you know it i will be fitting egt sensors as well i ordered AMR3321 which should hopefully fix it

scrappyloz said:

Recently purchased a 1988 defender 90 that has had a 300tdi engine fitted in place of the 19j. It has the typical problem of the temp guage sitting just below the red as the 19j gauge and 300tdi sender dont work together.

What sender do i need to buy or does anyone know if i can fit a resistor? if so what ohm?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I went through this exact issue a number of years ago, I went and got a 300tdi Defender sender - you can ID them by colour band, white or green I think - it was a while ago. Anyway it didn't work, in the end I got a TIM electric 52mm black gauge. Sender fits without any adapters, switch the gauges about and job done. Looks like it belongs I would say.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIM-Electric-Water-Temperature-Electrical-52mm-Gauge-/370853879611

scrappyloz said:

I dont really want another gauge in the cab as before you know it i will be fitting egt sensors as well i ordered AMR3321 which should hopefully fix it

Click to expand...

Didn't read this far down, good luck, please let us know how it works out, as I would put the original gauge back in if in fact it worked. I think they changed the gauges sadly and I seem to remember they cost a small fortune!

scrappyloz said:

Ive done a few 19j to 200tdi conversions years back and every time the 200tdi sender sends the 19j gauge into the red at standard operating temp. Im sure the 300tdi is the same. You cannot fit the 19j sender either as its a completely different size.

Is a 300tdi defender sender different to a disco one then?

Click to expand...

I don't know for sure, I was just trying to think like Landrover would (hopefully!) Think. Use the same gauge on 90/110 for all engines up to and including 300 and just fit different senders. I know they didn't because the Defender 200 sender doesn't fit the disco 200 BUT, it would make sense (to me) to have two different senders for the 300 to suit either the disco or the Defender gauge being the engine is identical to both.
If they did change the gauge as well then that's a PITA and I've guessed wrong of course.
I know Steve Parker Landrover do a conversation sender for disco 200 into NA/TD so they may do the same for your setup?

I had a look again last night as I wanted to know. Looking on likes of Paddocks, I only saw 1 gauge listed, so perhaps I was being lead down the wrong path 5/6 years ago when I went through all of this.

Anyway, I have a plan, I am going to hook the original LR gauge on the workbench, connect it up to the correct sensor and stick it in a pan of water, I will heat the pan to 88° and see where the gauge sits.

I had the same problem with my lightweight and the series senders threads are alot bigger then the 300 so you cant tap it out

I got a series sender and a brass 1/2" plug tapped out the centre to 5/8" unf and put it in the top of thermostat housing in place of the plastic bung

I think steve parker sell the adaptor

You would need a 19j sender as they may read different but im sure the threads are same as series / 200 tdi

Mech gauge fits the hole and actually tells you the temp! might need an adaptor at the engine end but simples. Job done with a gauge that'll work with no electric or crappy electric sensors/gauges/wires

waldamar said:

Mech gauge fits the hole and actually tells you the temp! might need an adaptor at the engine end but simples. Job done with a gauge that'll work with no electric or crappy electric sensors/gauges/wires

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Likewise the Tim one I posted above tells you the actual temperature and requires less messing about to fit, pull old gauge, connect up new one, replace sender, reconnect wire job done.

discomania said:

Likewise the Tim one I posted above tells you the actual temperature and requires less messing about to fit, pull old gauge, connect up new one, replace sender, reconnect wire job done.

Click to expand...

True [assuming the wire is good, no intermittent shorting etc] I guess the beauty of the mech gauges is you replace everything................ either way he'd have a better gauge than the original!

Well finally got around to changing it and its exactly the same so i assume its not the correct one. oh well