Hey guys, I've been researching a bit to find out what's up with my sporadic temp gauge. It's pretty intermittent but every now and again, the gauge will fluctuate very quickly and go between 50% (operating temp) and about 10%. Is the engine coolant temperature sensor sound like my problem to you guys? I'm just wanna get fixed because I don't know if it'll trip out the ecu and possibly let my engine get a bit too warm.
Thanks guys

 

check the senor right in front of the ect sensor thats the actual sensor that send the single to the gauge it a 1 prong clip could be lose

 

This^^

One thing you can do, is take off the single wire connector, and use a wire to touch it to a ground, and it should make your guage jump as well, might help out in the way of deciding if its a sender problem or the guage its-self is bad.



Also, are you sure your coolant was burped properly? No bubbles in the system or anything? I've seen some cars have air in it, and when they'd get on it going down the road the guage would drop, and come back up.

 

Thanks man. This usually happens when just driving normally. I haven't touched coolant in a while but I'll try what you said.

 

Sensor far more likely than guage to be the problem. You might want to try cleaning the contacts on the sensor and the plug with electrical cleaner as a cheap and dirty first step. Next step is to replace sensor; IIRC its a pretty cheap and easy replacement.

 

U sure its the sensor? It sounds like its workin to me man.

Sounds more like the thermostat is acting up. Might also need to replace fluid.

 

Read this. http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...iss-fires.html

The spade is loose on the sensor and the needle will drop when higher restance in the connection occurs. I experienced this and fixed it for free.

 

Thanks fellas. I'll start small and work my way up.