Well guys last night when i got into my car started her up and let it warm up a little the temp. guage was working fine later that night going home was driving down the highway and noticed that the temp guage was still laying down not marking the temp. of the car when i got home and turned off the car i heard the fans were on which was pretty weired because they never come on.... doese anyone know what this prob. can be... i have a 2001 monte carlo SS n/a

 

You have the same problem I had with mine.

This is a common problem with 2000-2005 Monte Carlos. The original guages tend to go haywire.

When mine went, the dealership had to replace the entire guage cluster. I'm hoping that the replacements don't do the same thing.

This is what mine looked like when it happened to me.

 

I'd start off by replacing the t-stat.

A bad thermostat is what caused the same exact problem on my '01 LS.

It's a really easy fix, and a new thermostat will cost you under $10 and is available at any parts store.

Good luck man,

-Riggs.

ps. Some people have also had this issue corrected by replacing the coolant temperature sensor. Keep your fingers crossed that it is one of those two, and not the gauge cluster.
-Riggs.

 

Normally you'd be right biggriggs. But the 2000-2005 Monte Carlo guages are a known issue. If you still have any kind of warranty left (even extended warranty), the dealership will replace it for free.

There are lots of stories here on this site, from people who have had their guages go like that. Jamie Lynn recently mentioned that her speedometer did the exact same thing. Showed she was going like 40 mph while parked.

 

actually taz i agree with riggs. if the fans are staying on after the car is shut off it means that the pcm went into fail safe mode. this happens when the thermostat goes bad.

 

If the gauges are doing what it shows in the pictures that Taz posted, then it is definitely the instrument cluster. I didn't see the pics you posted before I replied.

If the temp gauge just goes back to it's home position, and the fans come on after shutting down the car, then it is the PCM going to failsafe mode like Kweef said. (This may disable the air conditioning as well, oddly enough.)

They are completely different issues, but judging by the OP's description I would assume that he is describing a thermostat fault.

-Riggs.

Taz- I did a double take when I looked at your cluster pics.
The metric labels for the temperature gauge threw me off for a minute.

 

On second read of the first post, I think your right. Sorry.

 

Thank you guys for the help im going to go buy the termastate as soon as i get outta work.... should i buy a 180* stat? i already have one on there but should i keep it at 180*?

 

A 180* will work just fine. You'll see slightly better gas mileage with the stock thermostat (195*), but it's really up to you.

-Riggs.

 

better milage!!! :ING DING:: jockpot!!! keyword BETTER hehe 195* it is hehe