Still can't figure out why the thermostat would make my temperature gauge not work though, Intimidator.

Is there a temperature sensor on the thermostat as well? Or is it that it's stuck in the "OPEN" position and the coolant sensor can't take a legitimate temperature reading because of this?

 

if its a bad thermostat it will read an inacurate temp, if there's no temp being read then sounds like a temp sensor

 

Coolant Temperature SensorI already replaced...gauge still isn't working.

 

did you check your fuses?? i'm just trying to think of the simple stuff first

 

I've had experiance with some friends that have had theirs stick. My old Geo Metro is a good example, but it was cold out too. It would jump from 140 to 200 every 15 seconds or so as cold coolant moved in and warm coolant moved out. Once I swapped it the temp ran steady around 190. My friends have done similar fixes.

Also on that note, when was the last time you changed your coolant? I have heard complaints of DEXTROL (sp) coolant causing problems. You might just need a good flush.

 

never did a coolant flush on this car yet. It's got 85k on it. Perhaps it's a good time. Maybe I'll change the Thermostat while I'm flushing it.

BTW, Wiz Kidd...if it was a fuse...it'd probably screw around with my entire instrument cluster...wouldn't it? Also, the temperature gauge works SOME times...normally when it's 70 degrees and warmer outside. But since it's colder outside due to winter...it's not working at all.

Chances are...when it gets warm outside...it'll start working again.

Another issue it could be is the wiring to the Temperature Coolant Sensor. I know I had a squirrel or chipmunk living in the car at one time. The guy at the dealership showed me that I had a bunch of the car's insulation from behind the quarterpanels fashioned on top of the intake manifold in the shape of a nest. Little bugger ate a few wires on my wiring harness too. I did check to see if there were any bare wires...and found none.

Needless to say, I replaced my air filter last year with a K&N...and found peanuts and peanut shells in the air filter housing

 

Ok, yeah a squirell chewing on lines can change the trouble shooting as well. You might want to pull the face off the dash and look to see if any of the interior wires are chewed on too. It could be a wire is getting shorted out.

 

Check this out fellas. An update to our "dilemma"

I recently replaced my Coolant Temperature Sensor a few weeks ago to no avail. The Temperature gauge still did not work and I still had a Check Engine light.

So, tonight I went to Autozone and they checked the error code on the car. It's a P0128 error code (Coolant Thermostat Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature). Now Autozone said they're not supposed to clear the error codes...but this guy did it anyway. As soon as he cleared the error code, the Check Engine light went off. But the Temperature gauge still did not work. I shut off the car, he unplugged the tester and I restarted the car and now everything works. The Check Engine Light is off, and the Temperature gauge is now working.

The guy there told me that the computer probably didn't pick up that I changed the Coolant Temperature sensor...and it had to be reset. (Kinda like when you change your oil and don't reset the oil life sensor) That's probably why it's working now.

While I was there, I decided to get a new Thermostat, new coolant and a gasket.

I'm debating on whether or not to change the Thermostat now...since everything's working. Eh...I'll probably do it anyway.

Anyways...Happy Holidays. I'll let you know if this will fix our issue with our Montes

 

Sweet!! Glad it works for you now!

 

So far it does.

I just flushed the radiator and replaced the thermostat this morning and added new Dex-cool coolant.

So far, so good. Temperature gauge is still working and no Check Engine light thus far. I've also noticed that my heater is much warmer much faster.

The big test is when it gets colder outside. If the temperature gauge continues working...and no Check Engine light comes on...then the thermostat was indeed the problem. Either that or just clearing the P0128 error code thanks to Autozone.