2000 passat turbo tempature gage

[brwjp]

While driving my passat, after the tempature gage has reached the 190 mark, the gage will drop to 0. It seems to return to the 190 if I turn off the AC, however I can have the problem when the AC is not on and I do a hard excelleration (this doesent always happen). Of course it is an intermittent problem, but seems to be happening more frequiently. The coolent level is fine and it seems to be getting hot; so it is circulating. Any Ideas???? brwjp

[boschmann]

I take it you mean it isn't getting hot. The temp sensors are a fairly common item to fail. I'd go for that before the gauge itself.

[brwjp]

It will actually get hot but while driving the gage suddenly will drop to 0 then go back up to 190 for no apparent reason. I might drive for 30 minutes with the gage at 190 then it will suddenly drop to 0 and in 3 minutes go back up to 190. I will check out the sensor first.
Thanks

[boschmann]

Sorry, I was unclear. I assume it isn't overheating. I still would go for the sensor first. It's dificult to prove on an intermittent failure, but it's the least expensive.