Temp gauge

Well since it has gotten cold out again my temp gauge is quitting and fans are running constant.It was fine all summer after having the same prob last winter.I have changed sending unit twice I had to change cooling fans because bearings went from running all the time.And its hard to get good heat at 0 degrres with fans running.If i pull the PCM fuse for at least 20 min it will be fine for a while.What part could react to outside temp to cause this.The antifreeze temp and thermo are fine its electrical i think?

I think I have the same issue as what you have now and what you have had in the past.

Tonight going into work driving down the highway I always pay attention to my gauges and then I just happen to look back down at my temp. and it's all the way below 130 (where it sits when the car is off or just starting it when it's very cold outside). I get to work, shut the car off, the fans are running after the fact, I SHUT THE CAR OFF!

What causes this?

What part is needed to fix this problem? (Part number?)

Is this something I can fix on my own if I am to purchase the part?

Need some help. Also have an antifreeze leak.. Not good!

I appreciate any type of response I can get for this.

Thank you!
Rob

You need an 8 dollar part for it..it's a temp sensor that is near the cover for the thermostat...I had to replace mine for the same thing. It's a little bit of a pain in the ass to get to...if you have the right tools it should be easy.

Basically instead of having to remove all the coolant....I just unscred the temp sensor enough to where it wouldn't leak...then quickly swap them out and you loose next to no coolant.

Mike

Mike
Was yours doing what my 01 is doing? "gauge quits working completly when outside temp gets cold and fans running".And did you have to pull PCM fuse to get it working temporarally?

Went to dealer today.They scanned it and came up with c1016 and p0463.They said i need instrument cluster $500.but would not gaurantee that that would fix temp gauge prob.I said screw it.I'm gonna change AIR TEMP SENSOR and see what happens.

why would you need a new instrument cluster...i don't understand because i thought the insturment cluster only received information. Also....it may be the problem, but i would try the 8 dollar temp sensor instead of the 500 dollar cluster....and i would look on ebay for a used cluster for a little over a hundred bucks.....and no, i didn't have an gauge cluster problems or anything with the PCM....at least not yet...*knock on wood*. The only guage problem i had was the temp gauge not increasing, only because the engine wasn't getting warm. What is the gauge cluser doing?

mike

Mike
Was yours doing what my 01 is doing? "gauge quits working completly when outside temp gets cold and fans running".And did you have to pull PCM fuse to get it working temporarally?


What tools Bill? This thing IS a pain. I've got a Haynes book and it says to simply unscrew it ... yeah right ... How do I get to it without taking everything off?

You need to take off anything in the way,unplug the fans .Then it all comes out in one unit.

"What is the gauge cluser doing?"

Well now my gas gauge has gone haywire.I dont think that has anything to do with the temp gauge although dealer says it does.My temp gauge goes from normal to 0 when driving on COLD days only.when gauge drops instantly to 0 fans go on.Dealer said scan shows gauge cluster COULD be causing problem.I will try other stuff b4 spending $ on cluster.

"What is the gauge cluser doing?"

Well now my gas gauge has gone haywire.I dont think that has anything to do with the temp gauge although dealer says it does.My temp gauge goes from normal to 0 when driving on COLD days only.when gauge drops instantly to 0 fans go on.Dealer said scan shows gauge cluster COULD be causing problem.I will try other stuff b4 spending $ on cluster.

Well to me....and using common sense...it just simply displays what the motor is doing....i would say replace the temp sensor first....even if the gauge cluster was wrong....it wouldn't affect the motor because the gauge is only recieveing a signal. If the car was heating fine and the gauge was all weird..then maybe...

mike

bermis are you saying (coolant temp sensor) or (air temp sensor)

bermis are you saying (coolant temp sensor) or (air temp sensor)

I'm talking aobut the coolant temp sensor......

If the car was heating fine and the gauge was all weird..then maybe...



The car is heating fine and the gauges are acting haywire.but im gonna change the thermostat,coolant sensor and air temp sensor first,

I changed the thermostat and the coolant sensor.That didnt fix it.What does the AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR due?Seeing as this prob only happens in cold weather maybe that could be the prob.

One more Impala with the same problem. This just started today and I have never seen it before. For the life of me, I have been unable to locate the temp sensor. I assume this screws into the block somewhere? I looked near the housing where the upper radiator hose goes into the block as someone said it was near the thermostat housing. My Impala has the 3.8 if that matters.

Its near the thermastat housing just follow the wire.Unfortunatley that probly isnt you problem

Its near the thermastat housing just follow the wire.Unfortunatley that probly isnt you problem
Thanks, I was able to locate it. As you stated, it does not appear to be the problem in my case. I removed the PCM fuse for about 5 minutes as someone else suggested but it did no good. It was late so I just disconnected the battery and left it overnight as suggested in another thread. This morning I hooked up the battery and now everything is fine. Check engine light was reset, temp guage works, and fans remain off when engine is shut off. It will be interesting to see if this comes back on its own but the car was driven 250 miles today and everything is still fine. It sure looks like a computer code issue that prevents the guage and fans from working correctly until it gets cleared. I sure dont intend to buy any parts unless it reoccurs frequently.

I'm pretty sure it will act up on you again when it gets real cold again.I have been changing parts .I will tell you if i ever find out what it is.

I'm pretty sure it will act up on you again when it gets real cold again.I have been changing parts .I will tell you if i ever find out what it is.
SAME PROBLEM ON MY 01. I have changed temp sensor, and one of the fan control relays. If anyone finds the correct problem please post. Thanks Joe

I now know exactly what will cure the problem as mine is fixed.I went to the dealer and they charged me $80 to tell me it needed a DASH CLUSTER and the part alone was $500.I said i dont think so but will you gauratee it will fix the problem.The service manager said no gaurantee but the scan shows your Dash cluster is bad.So i said NO THANKS.Last week i installed a new high quality thermostat.And yes the problem is fixed for $8.I believe the dealer was going to install the dash cluster and when they saw that it didnt cure the problem they would put in a new thermostat (for free withuot telling me) and say the DASH CLUSTER fixed the problem.They should all be jailed and executed!!! I avoid dealerships and only go to them as a last resort. Im sure there may be 1 or 2 honest ones in the USA.

I should add i also changed the temp sensor and it didnt help.What was confusing was before i took it to the dealer i installed a new cheap thermostat and it was junk just like the one that was in the car .Get the best thermostat you can buy.The junk one i put in was a(stant 195Degree regular thermostat $4.50) The good one was a (Gates premium 195 degree superstat $7.00) The best 7 bucks i ever spent

I should add i also changed the temp sensor and it didnt help.What was confusing was before i took it to the dealer i installed a new cheap thermostat and it was junk just like the one that was in the car .Get the best thermostat you can buy.The junk one i put in was a(stant 195Degree regular thermostat $4.50) The good one was a (Gates premium 195 degree superstat $7.00) The best 7 bucks i ever spent

Thanks for the reply. I will put one in. Iam still confused why I have not had a problem during the summer. Thanks Joe

I was too.I dont know if the thermostat actually fixes the problem.But by not letting the temp get lower it prevents it from happening.I am assumming yours was doing exactly what mine was doing.( you would drive and the gauge would drop completly and fans would come on.)on cold days only!

I was too.I dont know if the thermostat actually fixes the problem.But by not letting the temp get lower it prevents it from happening.I am assumming yours was doing exactly what mine was doing.( you would drive and the gauge would drop completly and fans would come on.)on cold days only!
Same problem as yours. Today I pulled the pcm fuse to reset it. Then pulled the fan relay. Temp would only get up to around 150 and then the temp gauge dropped off the gauge, so the issue may be temp not reaching a high enough temp because of stuck open thermostat causing a problem in the computer. I will change out the thermostat this weekend and see what happens.send me a post if your issue comes back. thanks Joe

I am finally sure the stat fixed this problem that i have had for a long time.Its been a week and its fine.Before i was changing everything that dealerships and mechanics told me to and i wasnt able to make a 20 mile run in the cold.I drove over 600 miles in below zero temps and all is fine.A new stat will cure your sickness im sure.

I am finally sure the stat fixed this problem that i have had for a long time.Its been a week and its fine.Before i was changing everything that dealerships and mechanics told me to and i wasnt able to make a 20 mile run in the cold.I drove over 600 miles in below zero temps and all is fine.A new stat will cure your sickness im sure.

How hard is it to change out thermostat. thanks joe

Its EZ just follow hose to locate it and replace it .Just be sure that it is seated in correctly before you tighten the bolts.If you have a garage do it they shouldnt charge any more than a half hour labor. Most repair shops will charge about $25 labor.A dealer will try to convince you that you will need to take out a loan or buy a new car.

Its EZ just follow hose to locate it and replace it .Just be sure that it is seated in correctly before you tighten the bolts.If you have a garage do it they shouldnt charge any more than a half hour labor. Most repair shops will charge about $25 labor.A dealer will try to convince you that you will need to take out a loan or buy a new car.

Hey bill just Finised putting thermostate in a 3.4 lower bolt was a pain.Just curious do you have the 3.4 or 3.8. Any how temp is up. Thanks for your input. Joe

I have a 3.8 and i have a 195 stat.Mine runs right up around 195 and with the stat now working properly my car warms up much quicker.I think the other stat was stuck partialy or fully open.Now this one dont open until its supposed to and it regulates the temp evenly even while on hiway in cold weather.I have had no problems since installing a good stat.Let me know how you make out.

I have the same problem and the dealership told me that when they ran a scan on the car they said that the thermostat needed replaced. I couldn't see how that would make these problems occur. Now I will change it and see what happens.

Also if your fans have quit or going out I've found a website with exact replacement new fans and shroud for $125. Sounds good to me.

674-00679 Dual Fan Assembly, 3.4L

Please see attached picture.
New in box

$125.00 Shipping included

Lifetime Warranty

Thanks, Michael Miller
Route 65 Auto, Inc.
New Castle, Pennsylvania
Toll Free 1-866-370-6500

I have a related question to this thread topic... I want to install a new thermostat into my 3.8L motor... I'd like to put in a "Fail-Safe" thermostat by Motorad which locks in the open position in the event of overheating... They have three temperatures available, 192 deg, 180 deg and 160 deg... My driving location is the Northeast (Long Island)... What is the correct temperature thermostat for me?

its not by location. it be vehicle. the 195 is what comes in the car from the factory. to help keep your motor cooler, you can put in the 180 or the 160. I suggest the 180, since with the 160, its been known to cause a specific DTC light to come on.

so just go with the 180.

I have the same trouble with the temp gauge hitting the bottom of the dash, the cooling fans running after I shut the car off, but when this happens with mine, I have no A/C and my idle speed jumps around. The idle speed doesn't do it all the time but it scares the hell out of my wife when she is sitting at a red light and it revs to 2000 rpm. I put 2 coolant temp sensors and only 1 thermostat to fix the problem but it only helped for a while. Earlier I had a bearing going bad in one of the cooling fans and instead of paying $125 or better, I found one at a boneyard out of a similar model and just swapped the motors. By doing this I have a spare fan motor (used but workable).

I didnt know you could just change the fan motor that is good to know.I have had no problems for months now since putting a good t-stat in (knock on wood)