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  #1  
Old 11-25-2014, 07:38 PM
Jvan Jvan is offline
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water temp question

Today the reading on the water temp gauge began to act erratic. It would read a normal reading half way up the gauge and then it would start to fluctuate between H and normal. Even though it showed a "H" reading, it never steamed or overheated. Could it be that the temp sending unit needs to be placed? If so, where is it located; If not, what should I check?
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Old 11-25-2014, 09:14 PM
Tapani Tapani is offline
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Re: water temp question

First check is coolant level. Though not visibly steaming the most probable cause is internal steam bubbles / lack of coolant. If it were the sensor circuit it should show lower than standard resistance, i.e. be partly shorted somewhere.

The easiest thing to do next is to check what temp the ECU is reading. It has a separate sensor right next to the gauge one. You need ECUtuner or something alike to be able to tap into it.

If not possible then get a contactless thermometer and measure the temperature where the sensor is (cross over pipe, drivers side, a bit under the intake manifold). Naturally you need to measure the temp at both indicated temp ranges.

Do your fans come on when the gauge creeps up (with AC and defroster off)?

/T
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  #3  
Old 12-02-2014, 07:04 PM
Jvan Jvan is offline
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Re: water temp question

Water level was a little low so I added 50/50 mix and am watching to see when it gets low. I've owned the car for 20 years and never had this problem of low water level.
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  #4  
Old 12-06-2014, 06:32 AM
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fasteract7 fasteract7 is offline
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Re: water temp question

The two wire water temperature sensor is located on the left side
(drivers side in the US)
coolant cross over tube under the intake manifold,
at the back of the engine.


Sounds like your problem is there..sensor or wiring... If you had drained your coolant system and had large amounts of trapped air that could cause it although our setup is pretty good at purging air w/o some of the gymnastics other cars need. Hopefully not a head gasket problem...no bubbles in your coolant reservoir when warmed up ? You could confirm this by taking off rad cap, removing enough coolant so level is well below filler neck but still visible and running engine, again, looking for bubbles.

Any antifreeze odor at tailpipe? White smoke pretty much needs a major coolant shunt which would be obvious via the above tests.
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Old 12-27-2014, 11:12 PM
Tapani Tapani is offline
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Re: water temp question

Did you get this fixed?

What was the problem?

/T
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  #6  
Old 12-28-2014, 09:30 AM
Jvan Jvan is offline
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Re: water temp question

Hasn't been fixed yet. When I checked the coolant level, it was below the upper row. I added a 50% mixture and kept checking it the level and it kept going down but I couldn't see any leak. During this process, the crank pulley separated so I had it towed to my mechanic. He still hasn't worked on it because of other scheduled repairs and the Holidays. I hope to hear from him before New Year's Eve. When I get a soultion, I'll post it. The radiator was replaced years when we had the PRW group buy so it's got an aluminum radiator not the OEM one.
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Old 12-28-2014, 12:44 PM
92snowmachine 92snowmachine is offline
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Re: water temp question

Had a customer with similar problem in an outback last week. Turned out the coolant was partially frozen due to too much water and the car acted just like yours. Just something simple to check.
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  #8  
Old 12-28-2014, 06:10 PM
Jvan Jvan is offline
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Re: water temp question

I'll keep your suggestion in mind but my problem started before the freezing weather and I had changed the antifreeze in Sept. long before the problem developed. The 50% mixture I added was Prestone premixed water/antifreeze so I hope it has the correct ratio; I have some left so I may test it.
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Old 01-26-2015, 08:40 AM
Jvan Jvan is offline
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Re: water temp question

My mechanic couldn't find any leak so I guess the low water level (twice) so one of those magical mystery things. Been several weeks and the problem has not reappeared.
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