First: a public apology from me.  I have been tied up, but
        intended to call.  (And knowing how busy you can be, I was going
        to send you a private message asking when it might be most
        convenient for you to speak to me this evening.)  Please believe
        me: no disrespect intended.  I know how helpful you have been --
        including to me -- in the past.
        
        In the past I have observed that the fans have come on once the
        temperature has come up (to around 195).  And the gauge has
        operated intermittently (a few minutes on, then a few minutes
        off, etc.) -- but when it has come on it has registered what
        appears to be the correct temperature.
        
        P.S.  If you are still willing to talk and think it would likely
        be helpful, please let me know privately what specific time I
        can call you, either this evening or tomorrow.
        
        
          
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] 512TR temperature
          sending unit
          From: 
clyderomerof4 [at] bellsouth.net
          Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 16:47:26 -0400
          CC: 
ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com
          To: 
larrybard [at] hotmail.com
          
          I asked you to call me because it's easier to explain
            this shit over the phone 
          But Noooooo you will not call
          Soooooo here we go
          
          
          Ok start the car and warm it up
          Wait until the fans come on
          
          
          If the fans come on and cycle you already know it's not
            the temp sensor in the left radiator because that's where it
            is 
          
          
          Have an IR gun ready and shoot the upper pipes for both
            sides
          Record the reading 
          It should be around 195 no more
          If the cockpit gauges read the same you are ok
          
          
          If not then most likely it's the temp sensor on the
            center water manifold under the coolant recovery tank
          If it's that it would take around 4 hours to do a good
            job 
          Nothing is easy with the engine in
          
          
          Ted Rutlands has my old engine and a cockpit gauges as
            well as the temp sensor
          Its all from my old car so I know it works
          
          
          A good tech will charge no more the 8 hours because
            that's an all day job 
          On a good day 
          
          
          That's it
          Call me next time 
          
            
            Clyde Romero
            
            
            If you have no enemies
            You have no character ! 
            
            
            In Victory you deserve Champagne
            
In Defeat You Need It!
              
              If
                  you obey all the rules
              You
                  miss all the fun !
              
              
              
              
              
                
              
                
              
                
             
          
          
            
              
                
                Catching up with some month-long issues
                  after being away for the last 30 days driving around
                  the country (almost 9,000) miles with two friends --
                  in their Ford hybrid.  (Yeah, would have been a lot
                  more fun in one of my cars, but they wouldn't have
                  exactly gotten over 36 MPG.)
                  
                  Anyway, just before I left my 1992 512TR went to a
                  local, apparently competent, mechanic for its annual
                  inspection.  Everything was fine -- except for
                  (according to him) the temperature sending unit, and
                  (also according to him) the gauge itself.  I had
                  noticed that the last few times I had driven the car
                  the gauge seemed to read normally, and then stopped
                  registering at all.  On and off, typically for minutes
                  at a time.  Cooling system seemed to be working okay
                  (fans coming on when temperature reached about 195).
                  
                  If I understood him correctly, the mechanic wants to
                  charge me $350 for both (not each) a new "temperature
                  sending unit" and replacement gauge, plus an
                  additional $350 labor.  They would first replace the
                  sending unit, and if the gauge then worked properly of
                  course not replace the latter, but they said that
                  based on their tests the gauge was not sweeping
                  correctly.
                  
                  I am almost undoubtedly one of the least mechanically
                  knowledgeable people on this list, so please forgive
                  the possibly naive questions, but:
                  
                    - if indeed the sending unit is malfunctioning, I
                      would have guessed that the gauge might well not
                      also need replacement because it might be
                      functioning properly, with the erratic readings
                      solely attributable to the sending unit.  So what
                      are the chances that the sending unit needs
                      replacement, but not the gauge?  (Seems easy
                      enough to do what they propose and change the
                      sending unit first and then see if the gauge is
                      working correctly before also replacing it; and if
                      the mechanic were one of my regular trusted
                      mechanics I wouldn't be wary.)
 
- Assuming, for the moment, that both the sending
                      unit and gauge require replacement, $350 sounds to
                      me to possibly be excessive parts cost and labor
                      cost for replacing just the former (a quick search
                      shows that a sending unit is apparently available
                      from Rutlands for about $60 plus shipping), and
                      possibly even for replacing both.  (All Ferrari
                      Parts seems to sell gauges for $165. http://www.allferrariparts.com/147163.html
                      )
 
                  Any thoughts would be appreciated.
                  
                  Thanks,
                  Larry