Author Topic: Coolant temp sensor (Read 4254 times)

dkbmxer002 · « **on:** September 15, 2009, 07:09:17 AM »

So I recently had starter issues and recently undid my wiring harness and fiddled around with alot of fuses. Everything is connected again but the coolant temp gauge is pegged on hot, when I put the key in and turn it to acc even... Before the car has even been turned on.....

Any ideas? I checked the connections and thought I might have mixed up the coolant temp and oil pressure sensors since the plugs are the same but when I switched them and turned the key to acc it stil was pegged... I am stumped... Anyone?

iamcreepingdeath · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2009, 11:15:16 AM »

what happens when the car is actually running?

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2009, 01:23:51 PM »

Same thing, it just stays pegged on the hot. I checked the wiring inside the harness box thing under the intake and didn't see anything that looked messed up... Also checked all the fuses and they seem ok, but I don't know which fuse is the one tied to it....

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2009, 09:13:03 PM »

anyone have any ideas? the ground attached to the motor mount on the passenger side was loose which was causing the starter to not work.

unsure if it is related or not but since i had these issues i have a rough idle at start up for only about a minute. after that it drives fine.

i also tried turning on the key but not turning on the car with the plug disconnected and it still pegged to hot.

Ramblin MAn · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2009, 09:58:28 PM »

Did you try unplugging them and turning the key on to see if the problem goes away? A pegged guage means there is a short somewhere. either the guage, the wiring or the sender.

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2009, 10:03:35 PM »

yea it stayed pegged.

Cobra Jet · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2009, 11:01:48 AM »

take your finger and tap it hard right on the gauge cluster lens directly below the needle of the temp gauge... see what happens. It's possible the needle just got stuck when it pegged out. Tapping on the lens should free it...

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2009, 11:12:17 AM »

It isn't stuck, when the key is removed it instantly goes to cold

dkbmxer002 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2009, 06:24:44 PM »

anyone else have any idea's on this? i checked the wiring harness box and didn't find any grounds or shorts. it does the same thing when the sensor is plugged in and not plugged in.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2009, 07:58:13 AM »

I heard that the two little nuts on the back side of the cluster can loosen or oxidize. On is for the coolant temp ground, the other is the fuel gauge ground. Maybe check & clean them up? It'd be an ideal time to repair burned out bulbs.

I hate taking out that cluster though.