Strange temperature gage behaviour???

[MAVPR]

Ok so I go out to my car today after putting her away last night (she sat all night), I fire her up and the temperature gage goes all the way to the RED instantly! It then comes down a tinny bit after a min but no where near where it should be! I turn it off and try again - same thing?!

This ever happen to anyone? I know the car is not hot so whats up?



Thanks in advance!

Oh, car is a 97 gts

 

[dave6666]

Gage, sending unit, or sending unit wire connection maybe.

Try disconnecting the connector at the sending unit and wiggling it on and off a few times to clean the contacts. Make sure the connector fits good.

Not much more in that circuit I think.

Sending unit is easiest to replace if you need a next step.

 

[uvbnbit]

Agree with Dave6666. Coolant temp sending unit. Mine went out in the desert on the way to Vegas (VOI9). Scared us, but that's all it was though. Changed it when we got back.

 

[uvbnbit]

If that is what the problem is, go with OEM Mopar unit ($65.00?). The first one I bought at local Auto Parts store ($40) was supposedly the "correct" part. It wasn't. Had my PCM all confused. Me too. Car wouldn't start right, timing messed up, etc. Had no idea how important the coolant temp "signal" was to the PCM.

 

[MAVPR]

Thanks guys!

Here is where the noob in me comes out......... Where will I find the sending unit? :s
I looked in my service manual but no picture or description of location.

uvbnbit - glad this didnt happen while I was driving, I would have freaked out!

 

[MAVPR]

I used the search function and have located the sending unit..... Time to call Chuck

Thank you for the help!

 

[Viper Wizard]

I used the search function and have located the sending unit..... Time to call Chuck

Thank you for the help!

The sending unit is headed across the pond to you!

Cheers

 

[dave6666]

Chuck saves the Viper world yet again!!!

Chuck for President!!!

No?

Chuck for Coolest Dude Ever!!!

What?

Just Chuck?

Um, Mr. Wizard, may we call you Just Chuck?

It doesn't rhyme. I don't like it.

Chuck for Presi...

 

[2001-V10 Power Nut]

I agree with Dave, had the same thing happen to mine 3 months ago, and that was the fix

 

[Longnecker]

Sounds like a sensor wire is grounding out or maybe the end broke off the sensor as mine did and it is grounding out.

If this happens, and the key is turned on, the gauge will go to full scale.

There are 2 temperature sensors, one for the gauge and one for the engine management system. The gauge sensor has one wire, the engine management one has 2.

They are located in the thermostate housing at the back of the engine block, under the wiper shroud.

The gauge sensor is all but impossible to get to. Maybe from below if the car is on a lift? I have no lift. It is dead center under the thermostate housing cover. The other one is towards the passenger side and can be gotten to, but not easily.

With the wiper shroud off, I drilled and tapped a new 1/8 NPT hole into the top of the thermostate housing at the boss on the casting where there is a bit of thickness to tap into and installed a new sensor.

$9.00 from Advance Auto. Look for a "temperature gauge sending unit".

This info comes from a Gen 1 owner, maybe a 2 or 3 are different?

Longnecker

 

[dave6666]

Sounds like a sensor wire is grounding out or maybe the end broke off the sensor as mine did and it is grounding out.

If this happens, and the key is turned on, the gauge will go to full scale.

There are 2 temperature sensors, one for the gauge and one for the engine management system. The gauge sensor has one wire, the engine management one has 2.

They are located in the thermostate housing at the back of the engine block, under the wiper shroud.

The gauge sensor is all but impossible to get to. Maybe from below if the car is on a lift? I have no lift. It is dead center under the thermostate housing cover. The other one is towards the passenger side and can be gotten to, but not easily.

With the wiper shroud off, I drilled and tapped a new 1/8 NPT hole into the top of the thermostate housing at the boss on the casting where there is a bit of thickness to tap into and installed a new sensor.

$9.00 from Advance Auto. Look for a "temperature gauge sending unit".

This info comes from a Gen 1 owner, maybe a 2 or 3 are different?

Longnecker

Yup. being a '97 and therefore a Gen 2, it is different.

Very good technical perspective though.

 

[MAVPR]

Thanks Chuck, no idea what we would do without ya!


Longnecker
Thank you for the post, thankfully the gen 2 is a lot easier to get at!
Im sure this info will help a gen 1 owner at some point tho.

 

[grcforce327]

Gage???

 

[Viper Wizard]

Gage???

I guess Friday night started already!

 

[Venomiss]

Let us know if this is a fix for you.
Go Chuck!

 

[MAVPR]

Sensor is in and everything is back to normal! Life is good again

Thank you for the diagnostics everyone! My 'GAUGE' is good as new now

Thanks to Chuck for getting me the part so fast, Just amazing!