These are the codes that the car is running:

DTC P1404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Closed Position Performance
DTC P0141 HO2S Heater Performance Bank 1 Sensor 2
DTC P0404 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Open Position Performance
DTC P0128 Coolant Thermostat
DTC P0141 HO2S Heater Performance Bank 1 Sensor 2 (yes, it read this code twice for some reason)

What're your guys' opinions? The shop wants a hundred bucks to swap out the thermostat, I will try to do that on my own when I get the chance if you guys still think that's what it is?

 

The thermostat on a 3800 is literally a $7 part and a 5 minute job. If a shop said they wanted $100 to swap one out I would turn around and walk out.
I'm guessing that the EGR and O2 sensor codes are unrelated though. Are you sure those weren't included in the $100 estimate?

 

No, I didn't go to any shops...I called around all of the local shops and asked what it would cost to get the thermostat replaced without flushing the coolant...prices ranged from $100-$250.

Today, I went to O'Reilly's Auto Parts and had a guy help me with the code scanner. These are the codes that popped up on that scanner. I'm obviously hoping that they're all related :/

Also, I know that the thermostat is under $10...but I'm at college (an hour and a half from my home) and have no tools here. I am 95% sure that I'll be waiting until I get home in two weeks to have my dad and I replace the thermostat, coolant sensor, and flush the coolant...all for under $50. But I wanted to know if you guys thought this would fix it?

 

on my 2001 with a 4.3l the temp gauge works for a week or two and then doesnt work for a while and then goes back to not working. today the gauge wasnt working and i shut the car off for a few seconds, restarted the car and it seemed to work. does this seem like a t-stat or the step motor on the the cluster.

 

An update to my post, as well as the question, I changed the coolant sensor and the thermostat (as well as flushed coolant) and it fixed my temp gauge problem and the fans running afterwards (they shut off when the car does now).

To answer your question, I would be leaning towards thermostat. I originally thought that it was cluster as well, but I was able to get some pretty obvious help: I had the CEL on, so I read the codes. The coolant thermostat code came up (as well as the others). When deleting the code, the gauge came back on for a bit, and then quit as the code came back. Does this sound similar to your problem? Codes?

 

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