Need help again

You know it is nice to know when you have an automobile problem or question that you can turn to AF and pretty much find an answer. But the search feature kinda sucks. But better than none at all.

I have a new problem, My coolant temp. guage has quit working. It has done this before and it always starts back working the next day, I hope it starts back today. What happens is the guage drops to zero and both cooling fans come on. The car rund fine and doesn't over heat. I have change the ECT sensor already so its new.

This time the check engine light came on the temp guage is not working and both fans are on. I am going to advanced to get the codes pulled today, but like I said earlier the car runs fine, all the fluids are good, and the tranny shifts fine. I hope it is something stupid like the gas cap ( I already checked it, it's tight).
More later.

Don't the fans come on right away if you pull the plug off the ect? Maybe just a bad connection to the ect. I had a bad harness on my iat sensor and just changed the sensor, turns out it was the wire and plug going to the sensor and not the sensor itself.

Thanks for the information, I will have to check the wire.
I went to Advance auto parts yesterday and the manager let me use their scan tool ( I used to work with her ) and I pulled the codes one was for the TPS (probably caused the check engine light) the other said the engine coolant temperature, it was below thermostat operating temperature.
I figure the TPS is about due for a change, but the other could be a loose wire or bad connection.
I will try to check it out an post the results.

I believe the problem with the Throttle Position sensor is the SENSOR. But it is not a drivability issue, YET. And ECT is probably the wire as you suggested I will try to check it tonight at work. As far as the guage goes, if it doesnt start working I will have to replace the whole cluster, or just buy a mechanical guage and put it on the A-pillar. Either way it is not anything serious but I dont like riding blind ( temperature wise ). I am hoping that the guage and the ECT problem are linked together.

Thanks again for the info.

Did you change the sensor for the fan or the one for the gauge?

Did you change the sensor for the fan or the one for the gauge?

I was not aware the malibu 3100 had more than one ECT on it. I thought the ECT sensor below the thermostat did both? If there is another , where is it?

I not sure either about a Malibu I was thing of some other cars I have dealt with. What I don't understand if the gauge is at 0 the code reader said coolant was below operating temp why was both cooling fans coming on if every thing was showing cold and not hot.