Testing Engine Overtemperature Sensor?

 Honda has to LED's in the speedo, one for low oil pressure and one for
engine overtemperature.

I trust the oil pressure LED because when I stop the engine, the LED comes
on.  This provides assurance that the sensor and the wiring are OK.

But I don't trust the overtemperature sensor.  Shorting across it would
verify the wiring but not the sensor.

Is there any reliable, sane, standard way to test the thing?

 
I just notice that the Temp light on my wife's shadow 750 Aero doesn't
come on at all, even when I turn the key on, oops.
I Better look into it.
Bike's been running fine tho.

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If I'm understanding your post correctly, you may overestimate the
functionality of the bike.

For a car, it is common to have bulb test functionality on all lamps.

For my inexpensive motorcycle, there is no bulb test functionality.

Why are you expecting the temp light to come on when you turn the key on?
Does the aero have a bulb test functionality?

For mine at least, the oil pressure light comes on at key-on only because
until I start the engine, there is no oil pressure.

 

If the sensor provides an analog input to the system, you can use a volt/ohm
meter to determine if the temperature is changing as the sensor warms up.
If it is digital, you would need to know what the setpoint is and try to
come up with a nondamaging stimulous that could be applied to trip the
sensor.

 

You could remove the sensor, connect an ohm meter across it, and heat it up
in a pan of water while monitoring the temperature with a thermometer. It
will most likely read open until a certain temperature is reached and then
it will close, which completes the ground circuit for the indicator lamp.

Or............ you could send it to me for testing. I do this kind of stuff
all the time but my services are very expensive.

Or better yet, just ride and enjoy! Head north on 127 to the M-32 exit. Give
me a call and I'll show you some good roads, and even buy lunch.

Martin