Hi,

I just had my plugs and wires done and since I have gotten my car back, the temperature gauge on the dash has not moved. I've gotten the car really hot, sat at lights, etc etc. And it still looks like the car is turned off or something (No Temperature at all, the needle will not move) Is there something that I can check?, it looks like everything on top is plugged in.

 

I'd start by looking at the temp sensor and wire. It's located between sparkplugs 1 and 3 (driver's side cylinder head, just behind the first sparkplug, ahead of the second). I would think whomever did the service broke this or disconnected it. There's a single wire and connector plugged into it.

 

can you see if the temp sensor in the right head is connected? if its not, that could be your problem. try turning your key to the "bulbtest" position, somewhere between run &start. the voltmeter should drop all the way down and the temp gauge go all the way up. i am not sure if you firebird has this feature, but if it does, thats what should happen. you can also check for voltage at the connector that plugs on to the temp sensor with a testlight or multimeter. also check for no continuity between the block and the pin on the end of the sensor or between the block and battery ground. if the connection bteween the block and battery ground was bad or loose, it theoretically would cause more problems than just the temp gauge, but check it anyway. remember to be checking the sensor plugged into the head and not the one plugged into the waterpump. the one in the waterpump is for the pcm, and the one in the head is for the dash gauge. good luck.

 

Thanks for the help, I will check these out.

Question, If this gauge continues to be stuck, would it be best that I not drive the car do to possible overheating because a) the fans won't kick on or b) the coolant will not circulate.

 

The PCM uses a seperate sensor (located in the waterpump). The dash sensor is used only for that, to inform the driver. The SES light should also come on if it starts to overheat.

 

Thanks! I appreciate all the information

 

Hey, thanks again for the help.

I checked the sensor and guess what, that moron broke off the wires like you said. He even went through the trouble of chopping off the wires so I wouldn't know or something, there is going to be hell to pay.