Lake Water Temp Inaccurate

[03SANTE]

Bought my 03 210 at end of last season and noticed when we were out that lake water temperature was way off from actual. I can't remember if it was higher or lower but it had to be 20 degrees off. Any direction to start? Is the sensor the device that is tapped into the raw water line between the pickup and the strainer? All other gauges seem to be working fine. Could it be a calibration issue?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[NautiqueJeff]

Those are never too accurate, but 20 degrees is pretty extreme. You could try changing that sensor, and yes, that's it in that line.

[03SANTE]

Thanks. After looking into it more, I think the Perfect Pass may also have a temperature readout. If so, would that be feeding off of a different sensor? Just getting to know the boat and I appreciate all of the help gathered from this site.

[functionoverfashion]

Same here - I have a 2003 SANTE as well, bought it summer of 2017. The temp has always been wildly off, but I haven't cared enough to look into it at all... if it's as simple as a sensor change, though, then yeah why not fix it? I'll be curious what you find.

[03SANTE]

I'll post if I fix it. It's a $20 part on Nautiqueparts...although being in PA I may not want to know the real temp of the lake water.

[Skidave]

My water is accurate, but the air is way off.

Where are you in PA?

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[03SANTE]

Just outside of Pittsburgh.

[MTRBTR]

I don’t know why you would want to know...in MT it’s better if we don’t know how cold it is or we would probably never jump in the water.

[functionoverfashion]

being in PA I may not want to know the real temp of the lake water.

Yeah, since the ice went out on our lake here in NH, it's been mostly cloudy and in the 40's. The lake is not warming up very quickly at this rate. This is probably one reason I haven't fixed it, now that you mention it.

wife: "How cold is the water?"
me: I don't know, but the heater is working

[srock]

I've been using my toe for years and its always been extremely accurate.

[functionoverfashion]

I've been using my toe for years and its always been extremely accurate.

Ah, my preferred method with cold water is just to dock start, then I won't know how cold it really is until I fall.

[03SANTE]

Back to a serious note...it seems like the old sensor is wired directly to the plugs on the Faria gateway box in the back. Knowing the state of these boxes I don't want to mess with it since it seems to work. I haven't worked with these plugs so I don't know how hard it would be to wire directly to the plug. Would I be ok just taking the old sensor out and a few inches of wire and splicing the new one in with heat shrink crimps?
Also, could the erratic temperature readings be the start of gateway box issues? All of the other gauges seem to work fine.
Thanks in advance!

[Skidave]

Years ago I wrote about the temp sensors and issues with that generation of Gateway boxes having ground issues. Sometimes lack of grounds or poor grounds.

The temperature measurement is via resistance. As the temperature changes, the resistance goes up or down. You could search my posts for that history to help you. I work on electronics for a living, but the details of my findings about this subject are vague since it was so long ago.

[Skidave]

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...er-temp-guages

[03SANTE]

Thanks. Anyone ever replace one of these or have input about my wiring question?