Temperature Gauge Fluctuates Randomly
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Temperature Gauge Fluctuates Randomly
My temp gauge has progressive started to spike more and more. Jumps from a normal reading to 250 or 260 nonstop while the car is running also when the car is off and key is turned forward. Gives "Coolant over temp" warning seemingly 5-6 times a minute. These readings are not accurate to the actual temps. I have changed the coolant temp sensor, and looked for burnt/torn wires with no success. Only codes showing are for the o2 sensors due to the headers, and c1286 steering sensor bias malfunction. is a 97 with ts headers/xpipe.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
From: QC AZ
I've seen the temp gauge on our racer do that when we had a coolant leak and we were way down on coolant. The senders can't read air so when the coolant was below the sender the gauge dropped then boiling hot coolant would hit the sender and the gauge would spike. Does it do it when you first turn it on in the morning? Does it need to be warmed up first or does it do that immediately upon starting it?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I've seen the temp gauge on our racer do that when we had a coolant leak and we were way down on coolant. The senders can't read air so when the coolant was below the sender the gauge dropped then boiling hot coolant would hit the sender and the gauge would spike. Does it do it when you first turn it on in the morning? Does it need to be warmed up first or does it do that immediately upon starting it?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
This problem did eventually return. It was the wiring for the coolant temp sensor. It does not show any visible wear but I was able to make the problem go away by routing the wiring away from headers.
Last edited by Logan Youngblood; May 18, 2019 at 01:07 AM.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
temp gauge fluciuation
MY 01 z06 temp gauge was having erratic movement 0 to red line and back, replaced the sensor. Still had problem, moved the wire to the sensor away from behind the alternator and problem fixed. The wire was likely grounding out.
