Temp Gauge Stuck

[IceBlade]

My temp gauge will go up to the halfway point and then doesn't go any further. I've blown a coolant hose, lost all the coolant, had the engine start smoking and it still didn't go past that middle point. (That's how I discovered this lol.) Anything I could try that doesn't require me to see a mechanic?

[Crazy_pilot]

I thought the same about mine...until I stuffed the bumper vents with snow using the car as a plow and watched the gauge shoot for the moon.

[SoCal LS-L]

This is fairly common in the older resistance type gauges. they develop a magnetic "memory" at the spot where they spend the most time.... which is usually at the regular operating temp spot. If you notice, a lot of newer cars will max out all of the gauges when you first start it to prevent this phenomenon from occuring. One thing you can do is max it out yourself..... you can disconnect the temp SENDER connector (single wire, NOT the two wire sensor) and just ground the lead ..... it should make your gauge hit maximum value. Just do this a few times (but dont hold it to ground for more than a second or two) and make sure the needle jumps to max. This should help restore the function of the gauge.

[michael]

I'll quess some sort of air pocket in the crossover pipe.

[michael]

Sorry double post

[IceBlade]

Originally Posted by SoCal LS-L

This is fairly common in the older resistance type gauges. they develop a magnetic "memory" at the spot where they spend the most time.... which is usually at the regular operating temp spot. If you notice, a lot of newer cars will max out all of the gauges when you first start it to prevent this phenomenon from occuring. One thing you can do is max it out yourself..... you can disconnect the temp SENDER connector (single wire, NOT the two wire sensor) and just ground the lead ..... it should make your gauge hit maximum value. Just do this a few times (but dont hold it to ground for more than a second or two) and make sure the needle jumps to max. This should help restore the function of the gauge.

Thank you I will try this