Weired problem???
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Weired problem??? I was wondering whats causing the temp guage on my 02 WS6 to just red line. All of a sudden, the guage will just turn all the way to the red lineing point. Then, just like that, it will return to the half way marker. What can be wrong with it. Also, I hear the fan turning on alot more often. What can be the problem?
Sounds like a electrical problem.Does the fan & the gauge do it at the same time ? How is your antifreeze level ?If its low it could be a air bubble.Could also be a bad temp.sensor.
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Stewart, GA
It could have a bad thermostat causing that. It could also be that you have some air in the coolant system. When the very hot air gets to the thermostat, that is what is causing the spike. After the air passes and coolant gets to the thermostat, that might be why the gauge goes back to normal. I had the exact same thing you describe happen on my old firebird. Turned out I had a small leak on the lower intake manifold gasket. Take a flash light and look all around for any small leaks to see if you can see any.
Have you done a coolant system flush recently? Have you checked to see that you are topped off on fluid?
Have you done a coolant system flush recently? Have you checked to see that you are topped off on fluid?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
I'd check the ECT sensor harness/connector first. Is the car actually overheating? Does the SES come on? The gauge gets it's input from the sensor via the PCM and if it thinks it's overheating it'll turn the fans on. If it's jumping back and forth in a few seconds probably not overheating and just an ECT sensor issue.
