SC400 Temperature Gauge pegged at H - Help!
#1
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Location: Texas
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SC400 Temperature Gauge pegged at H - Help!
I have a 96 Sc400 with 180k miles.
My problem is that my temp gauge moves up to H within the first minute I start the car. It first happened when driving and the needle seems to go up and down at will. Now parked and idling it stays at H.
The car does not appear to be overheating. There is no smoke at all. The oil looks as it should, not murky and so does the coolant.
This is what I know:
- I've taken the thermostat out and put it in boiling water and it opened. -
- I have replaced the temperature sensor with a new one.
- I have no leaks of coolant at all.
- Both the upper and lower radiator hoses are hot to the touch after warmup.
- After taking off the radiator cap, the fluid level is full.
- Turning on the heater does not appear to lower the temperature.
Please help! Thanks in advance,
MH
My problem is that my temp gauge moves up to H within the first minute I start the car. It first happened when driving and the needle seems to go up and down at will. Now parked and idling it stays at H.
The car does not appear to be overheating. There is no smoke at all. The oil looks as it should, not murky and so does the coolant.
This is what I know:
- I've taken the thermostat out and put it in boiling water and it opened. -
- I have replaced the temperature sensor with a new one.
- I have no leaks of coolant at all.
- Both the upper and lower radiator hoses are hot to the touch after warmup.
- After taking off the radiator cap, the fluid level is full.
- Turning on the heater does not appear to lower the temperature.
Please help! Thanks in advance,
MH
#5
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Pulling out the cluster seems like a lot of work. I dont have a friend with one laying around. Could it be anything else before I go to that extreme?
thx
thx
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#8
With the age of the car and no other symptoms present, I'd suspect a faulty temp sensor. It's on the center of the engine, in front, and is the smaller one with a single wire connection. While you're at it you might as well replace the 2-wire sensor next to it that sends temp data to the ECU.
#12
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First, even though I doubt the cluster diagnosis, pulling the cluster is a piece of cake. Search the forum and, if you don't find it, I will search and post or just write a quick summary.
Second, there are probably two temp gauges on the SC400. I know there are on the SC300. To me, it sounds like either the one that signals the cluster gauge has a short or a bad sending unit (sensor) or there really is an air pocket where there should be coolant.
Second, there are probably two temp gauges on the SC400. I know there are on the SC300. To me, it sounds like either the one that signals the cluster gauge has a short or a bad sending unit (sensor) or there really is an air pocket where there should be coolant.
#13
Pole Position
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With the age of the car and no other symptoms present, I'd suspect a faulty temp sensor. It's on the center of the engine, in front, and is the smaller one with a single wire connection. While you're at it you might as well replace the 2-wire sensor next to it that sends temp data to the ECU.