Bouncing Temperature Gauge

[lilcrc]

(If a similar thread has been posted, I apologize.)

I have a 97 Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 and 5 speed. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving to work and noticed the temp gauge was a tiny bit higher than usual.. almost to the 210 mark, then it started dropping, to about halfway between the 150 and 210 marks. Then it slowly moved back to the normal spot, a needle's width from the 210 mark.

It hasn't done that since, until today. Did it driving to and from work. Can't find any leakage, no antifreeze smell, coolant level is fine.

BTW, the water pump was replaced (again) about six weeks ago, the thermostat and temp sending unit were replaced in April. Other than this suddenly wacky gauge, it runs fine.

I'm totally lost with this. Can someone please help?

[terrymason]

Why was all the other stuff replaced? Did replacing that stuff fix the problem at the time?

I doesn't sound like the gauge is bad, it sounds like the engine temp is really changing.

[4x4grey88]

Originally Posted by lilcrc

(If a similar thread has been posted, I apologize.)

I have a 97 Wrangler Sport with the 4.0 and 5 speed. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving to work and noticed the temp gauge was a tiny bit higher than usual.. almost to the 210 mark, then it started dropping, to about halfway between the 150 and 210 marks. Then it slowly moved back to the normal spot, a needle's width from the 210 mark.

It hasn't done that since, until today. Did it driving to and from work. Can't find any leakage, no antifreeze smell, coolant level is fine.

BTW, the water pump was replaced (again) about six weeks ago, the thermostat and temp sending unit were replaced in April. Other than this suddenly wacky gauge, it runs fine.

I'm totally lost with this. Can someone please help?

Jeeps normally run temperatures around 200 F so it is not reading high. If the gauge is fluctuating as much as you are stating it could be a bad sensor and or thermostat. I would check the sensor first.