Can I connect a second temp gauge to the TD5 temperature sensor in the cylinder head?

[Parker]

I bought a coolant temperature gauge.
Can I simply connect a second wire to the TD5 temperature sensor in the cylinder head? That way the simple instrument gauge and the new gauge would use the same sensor.

[AK83]

No!
in 99.999% of instances.

That is, each sensor has a very fine output range, and a gauge needs to be calibrated for that sensor output range.

So Sensor Type A, works with Gauge Type A.
And Sensor Type B works with Gauge Type B.

But Sensor Type A may have a signal so that Gauge Type B may show some value, but that value will probably be wrong.

simple example: your TD5's sensor won't send a correct signal to a Commodore Temp gauge.(very likely not too, but won't know till tried)

If you hooked up a VDO gauge to the TD5's sensor it either won't show anything, or show an incorrect value.

Only a TD5's temp gauge will show a correct temperature from a TD5's temp sensor.

Whatever coolant temp gauge you bought, SHOULD have come with a sensor to use with it. If it didn't then you will need to find one that is compatible for it .. ie. not just any sensor.

[Red90]

No. These are resistive sensors with power supplied by the gauge.

[Parker]

No!
in 99.999% of instances.

That is, each sensor has a very fine output range, and a gauge needs to be calibrated for that sensor output range....SHOULD have come with a sensor to use with it. If it didn't then you will need to find one that is compatible for it .. ie. not just any sensor.

Thanks a lot, I though there might be a good reason why the gauge came with a new sensor!

:)