Where should my temp gauge show under normal driving condition?
06-17-10, 09:48 PM
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Where should my temp gauge show under normal driving condition?
I feel like it's showing a bit low. It climbs up to just about quarter way, slightly past the second mark, and typically stays there no matter how much I drive. On a hot summer day it'll climb to third of the way up in traffic.
Is it reading wrong or am I running too cold? How can I tell? I feel like it should be showing higher temperatures after proper warm up.
Is it reading wrong or am I running too cold? How can I tell? I feel like it should be showing higher temperatures after proper warm up.
06-17-10, 11:14 PM
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Hmm...ok, mine is way lower than that. Today was a cool day and my needle was almost by the second mark. Odd. I have all new cooling system components, new thermostat from Mazda, new radiator, new fan clutch, new water pump. Hmm...
I'm gonna check sender resistance...
I'm gonna check sender resistance...
06-17-10, 11:50 PM
#5
man i wish i had your problem. mine runs at half way and my electric fan is always on. i think i am going to upgrade to an aluminium radiator. i flushed my coolant a couple of months ago but it still runs kind of hot. it is pretty hot here in houston... so i need all the cooling i can get.
06-18-10, 12:47 AM
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Maybe your electric fan isn't pulling enough air, maybe your radiator blades are bent/clogged, maybe your fan shroud isn't funneling that air very well, maybe your thermostat is bad, maybe you're running a bit lean. If one of your components isn't working optimally, hot weather obviously won't make things better.
Still, running too cold isn't good either.
Still, running too cold isn't good either.
06-18-10, 05:03 PM
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Ok, today when I drove it was at 1/3rd way. Maybe some contacts are loose/old or something...and are causing extra resistance. Checking resistance at the sender it showed 80 ohms or so.
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06-18-10, 08:00 PM
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Don't trust the OEM gauge, it sucks. Get a decent aftermarket one that shows the actual numbers. I have the same issue, my stock temp gauge reads way low, it barely goes above the C line.
06-18-10, 08:55 PM
#9
the factory gauge mechanism rusts and decreases the signal you see, while the sender unit seems fine
your reading will vary quite a bit depending on the gauge condition. Mine is hopeless, and delays changes by about 10+ seconds (I have an electronic reading connected to the oem temp sensor so can compare the two)
07-20-10, 01:45 PM
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Some odd business going on with my temp gauge.
I noticed that once I fill up the tank, my temp gauge shows 1/3rd of the way - normal reading. But as my fuel level goes down, the temp gauge starts to show less and less. When I'm almost out of gas, my temp gauge is at 1/5th of the way. However once I fill up, it goes back to 1/3rd again.
It's almost as if my fuel gauge is affecting my temperature gauge. Is that possible? They are on the same dial, but are they on the same circuit or something?
I noticed that once I fill up the tank, my temp gauge shows 1/3rd of the way - normal reading. But as my fuel level goes down, the temp gauge starts to show less and less. When I'm almost out of gas, my temp gauge is at 1/5th of the way. However once I fill up, it goes back to 1/3rd again.
It's almost as if my fuel gauge is affecting my temperature gauge. Is that possible? They are on the same dial, but are they on the same circuit or something?
07-21-10, 08:02 AM
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This is where mine is while driving normally.
If I am really getting on it, it will creep almost to 1/2.........
How do I test to see if I am running lean?
If I am really getting on it, it will creep almost to 1/2.........
How do I test to see if I am running lean?
07-21-10, 09:21 AM
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Maybe your electric fan isn't pulling enough air, maybe your radiator blades are bent/clogged, maybe your fan shroud isn't funneling that air very well, maybe your thermostat is bad, maybe you're running a bit lean. If one of your components isn't working optimally, hot weather obviously won't make things better.
Still, running too cold isn't good either.
Still, running too cold isn't good either.
07-21-10, 09:24 AM
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Some odd business going on with my temp gauge.
I noticed that once I fill up the tank, my temp gauge shows 1/3rd of the way - normal reading. But as my fuel level goes down, the temp gauge starts to show less and less. When I'm almost out of gas, my temp gauge is at 1/5th of the way. However once I fill up, it goes back to 1/3rd again.
It's almost as if my fuel gauge is affecting my temperature gauge. Is that possible? They are on the same dial, but are they on the same circuit or something?
I noticed that once I fill up the tank, my temp gauge shows 1/3rd of the way - normal reading. But as my fuel level goes down, the temp gauge starts to show less and less. When I'm almost out of gas, my temp gauge is at 1/5th of the way. However once I fill up, it goes back to 1/3rd again.
It's almost as if my fuel gauge is affecting my temperature gauge. Is that possible? They are on the same dial, but are they on the same circuit or something?
They are on the same circut board, i have pulled a bunch of dashes apart and the fuel and coolant circut board lines run next to eachother at one point it may have some dust or corrosion on it that can be effecting it???
07-21-10, 10:08 AM
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man i wish i had your problem. mine runs at half way and my electric fan is always on. i think i am going to upgrade to an aluminium radiator. i flushed my coolant a couple of months ago but it still runs kind of hot. it is pretty hot here in houston... so i need all the cooling i can get.
07-21-10, 10:22 AM
#18
You could be seeing a voltage loss or a limiting of current available to the gauges. That would explain why your temp gauge seems to be sensitive to your fuel level.
Not sure if the FB panel is the same, but the SA panel has a small voltage regulator module on the back that is supposed to make sure the gauges get a smooth supply of current regardless of fluctuations in supply voltage.
I've never seen one go bad, but it sounds like a possibility.
Not sure if the FB panel is the same, but the SA panel has a small voltage regulator module on the back that is supposed to make sure the gauges get a smooth supply of current regardless of fluctuations in supply voltage.
I've never seen one go bad, but it sounds like a possibility.
07-21-10, 02:58 PM
#20
Yep, mine runs 1/3rd from C and that's without the A/C running. In traffic, A/C on full blast, and idling, it get's up to half. But as soon as I get moving again, the temps start falling back to 1/3rd. I guess the clutch fan can only do so much at 800RPM. I have an aluminum radiator on my to do list. But I want to keep my clutch fan....
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