Temp gauge question

[CB7tunerkid]

Hey,

Here's my question.....when I'm idling at a light or in a driveway or something my temp gauge in the dash starts going to H and will get right up into the red.....generally when I start driving again it will almost immediately drop right down to the middle again.

Is my waterpump going? Or my rad? In addition, the little green sensor right below the distributor that I believe is a coolant sensor is all smashed up on my car. I accidentally hit it when replacing my dist. The two metal prongs are still okay and I left it plugged in, but the housing for it is smashed so I don't know if it still is functioning correctly.

Any ideas what my problem might be? Thanks in advance

[mozzandherb]

Are you throwing any CEL? I believe its code 6 for the cooling sensot. Also is your fan running normally? I would have the coolant sensor replaced if its all smashed up. Could be that the fan isent working at idle, but then engages while you are driving. Doesnt sound like its the radiator

[Jtschupp04]

if you still have a/c in your car when the gauge starts getting higher that what it is supposed to. turn your a/c switch on to activate the a/c. theres two fans for your car one normal cooling fan and an a/c fan. when you hit that switch see if the fan comes on. i think its the right one on the radiator if your are standing in front of your car looking at the engine. see if the temp goes down it should if that fan is operating. also when the gauge goes too high try to tap/hit the cooling fan at the motor. some of the contacts may be shorted. if it turns on momentarilly you need a new fan.

[CB7tunerkid]

bump for any new thoughts? still not able to figure it out.......I topped up the coolant and it went away for awhile but came back.... help please!

[cpl hero]

Hey,

Here's my question.....when I'm idling at a light or in a driveway or something my temp gauge in the dash starts going to H and will get right up into the red.....generally when I start driving again it will almost immediately drop right down to the middle again.

Is my waterpump going? Or my rad? In addition, the little green sensor right below the distributor that I believe is a coolant sensor is all smashed up on my car. I accidentally hit it when replacing my dist. The two metal prongs are still okay and I left it plugged in, but the housing for it is smashed so I don't know if it still is functioning correctly.

Any ideas what my problem might be? Thanks in advance

It sounds like it might be that sensor, does it run hot when you are driving also? I would do a full coolant flush and change out the thermostat to a lower cooling one. Also you can check to see if your water pump is working by squeezing the upper hose with the car running (engine warm to touch) and slowly release the hose. while releasing the hose try to feel the water surging through the hose. If you can feel it then the pump is good and I would deffinately look to the sensor.

[Leung]

i'd replace that temp sensor and just for the hell of it replace the tstat also.

[mozzandherb]

I am now having the same problem. While in traffic or idling the temp gauge goes way up and once I start driving it goes down. I think if it was the water pump you would notice some leaking and usually if it's the thermostat the thermostat gets stuck open which wouldnt lead to overheating. I aske my mechanic and he believes it might be a head gasket problem, but I just posted this problem in another thread and I am waiting for some responses because I'm not sure if it's the head gasket

[qbodsyt]

I am now having the same problem. While in traffic or idling the temp gauge goes way up and once I start driving it goes down. I think if it was the water pump you would notice some leaking and usually if it's the thermostat the thermostat gets stuck open which wouldnt lead to overheating. I aske my mechanic and he believes it might be a head gasket problem, but I just posted this problem in another thread and I am waiting for some responses because I'm not sure if it's the head gasket

yeah, I have the same problem too, and what gets me is if I top up the antifreeze it goes away for a time but then it starts doing it again after awhile......and since I'm not leaking ANY fluid I'm wondering if its the HG....that'd suck balls

[mozzandherb]

Well if your loosing coolant and you're not leaking anywhere, it does sound like the head gasket, and yes that does suck balls

[93accordfreak]

I'm losing coolant and I don't have any leaks, so I've got a feeling it might be my head gasket.

Are your fans turning on when it gets too hot? My fan sensor (I think) was bad, so I swapped it for a junkyard one and it works fine now. The sensor was the one with the pink/purple connector, on the firewall side of the distributor, sorta beneath it.

[qbodsyt]

Well if your loosing coolant and you're not leaking anywhere, it does sound like the head gasket, and yes that does suck balls

yeah, except so far when I've changed my oil I haven't noticed anything.......wouldn't coolant get in my oil if my HG was gone? What kills me is the car is driving fine, my gauge goes all the way up to the red but I've never had it die and it never smokes white or anything......still not sure what it is.

[King James]

yeah, except so far when I've changed my oil I haven't noticed anything.......wouldn't coolant get in my oil if my HG was gone? What kills me is the car is driving fine, my gauge goes all the way up to the red but I've never had it die and it never smokes white or anything......still not sure what it is.

Off topic but your sig makes me feel like its November lol

[jhondayaaj]

yeah, except so far when I've changed my oil I haven't noticed anything.......wouldn't coolant get in my oil if my HG was gone? What kills me is the car is driving fine, my gauge goes all the way up to the red but I've never had it die and it never smokes white or anything......still not sure what it is.

not necassarioy. head gasket gone, sure, you may get coolant and oil mixed together if it was bad enough. however, if your head is warped, it can cause coolant to seep through also, more when engine is cool because what happens to metal when heated? it expands. so an aluminum head will also do the same thing. if all fans are working fine, t stat is opening, t switch is turning on BOTH fans, no coolant leaks at all, radiator os not clogged, then most likely the head is warped.

[qbodsyt]

Off topic but your sig makes me feel like its November lol

December 24th actually, lol......remember how warm it was at Christmas? It was like 8 celsius outside even at ten in the evening. Those were the first pics I took for my MR.

not necassarioy. head gasket gone, sure, you may get coolant and oil mixed together if it was bad enough. however, if your head is warped, it can cause coolant to seep through also, more when engine is cool because what happens to metal when heated? it expands. so an aluminum head will also do the same thing. if all fans are working fine, t stat is opening, t switch is turning on BOTH fans, no coolant leaks at all, radiator os not clogged, then most likely the head is warped.

why are you grinning you bastard? lol j/k but if that is true it sucks balls

I don't have the money for an engine swap right now, but I was planning to do my timing belt and water pump soon. if the head is warped or the HG is gone there's not much point in doing that tho. just drive it and save for a swap. gah

[mozzandherb]

Well you dont necessarily have to swap engines if your head is warped, you can send it out to get it fixed if theres a shop near you (which I'm sure there is) that fixes that problem