What would cause my temperature gauge to stop working?

The most common cause of faulty temperature readings is a broken coolant temperature sensor (CTS). The part, which is normally located near a vehicle’s thermostat near the base of the radiator (consult your owner’s manual or repair guide) can get gunked up and fail. Disconnect the temperature sensor’s wiring connector.

How do I know if my temperature gauge is bad?

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Thermostat

1. Temperature gauge reading very high and engine overheating.
2. Temperature changing erratically.
3. Coolant leaks around the thermostat housing or under the vehicle.

Is it normal for your temperature gauge to fluctuate?

A car’s temperature gauge rarely falters with age. Hence a fluctuating gauge is reason for concern, as it points to possible faults elsewhere. One common cause is a defective thermostat, a component that is inexpensive and easy to replace.

What to do if your car temp gauge is not working?

Bypass Temperature Sensor – Connect a jumper wire between the 2 pins of temperature sensor harness connector. If temperature gauge indicates hot, replace coolant temperature sensor. If temperature gauge does not indicate hot, go to next step. 3. Check Red/White Wire For Short To Ground – Turn ignition off.

Why is the temperature gauge on my Honda Civic not working?

If there aren’t any clear wiring issues, test the wiring coming from the ECT sending unit (see Figure 3) with a multimeter. A warmed up engine should provide a resistance of about 38 ohms. If there’s no reading car is turned on, but a reading when the car is turned off, the gauge is likely the culprit.

Is the temperature gauge on a Honda del Sol working?

This article applies to the Honda Civic, Del Sol (1992-2000). Most of the time drivers rarely even glance at the temperature gauge. If something goes wrong and your car does overheat, that gauge can warn you of impending doom and save thousands of dollars in the process.

What causes an engine temperature gauge to stay on cold?

Reasons Why your Engine Temperature Gauge Stays on Cold 1. Faulty Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor 2. Faulty Gauge/Cluster 3. Broken wires to the sensor or to the gauge 4. Bad Thermostat 5. Corrosion in connectors 6. Air in the coolant system 7. Broken engine control unit

Why does the temperature gauge go to high when stopped Honda?

If the radiator and condenser are clear of debris, and the cooling fan is pulling air through the radiator, the next thing to question is the clogging of the radiator.

What to do when temperature gauge goes to high?

Q: Temperature gauge goes to high when car is stopped. This can be checked by warming the vehicle up until the thermostat is open, driving the vehicle for a few blocks to get some air flowing through it, stop, turn the motor off and feel the radiator with your hand. Be careful the cooling fan doesn’t turn on.

What to do if your coolant gauge is not working?

Using your coolant temperature gauge as an example, the diagnostic procedure involves locating and disconnecting the sending unit. With the ignition on, the gauge should register cold. If you connect the sending unit wire to ground, the gauge should switch to read hot.

How does the temperature gauge work on a car?

Its operating principles remain the same: A temperature sensor that reads engine temperature, and a display to show the temperature. Thus, the temperature gauge on your dashboard is your window into the coolant temperature as seen by the temperature sending unit.