Ok heres the deal.. My wife and I went out to eat, We were there for a good 1 1/2 the weather is low 40s.. Anyways I get in my car and the needle is pegged at 280 and my check gaugeslight is on... I know my engine isnt hot and my radiator is topped off, no air in my lines I checked the screws what could be wrong I never heard somethingl ike this

 

So... did you drive the car after that? What happened to the guage?

 

yeah i drove it home, i only lived 2 miles from the place.. i just came back from looking at it... my oil is fine.. the exhaust is not sucking in, But the needle is still pegged to the top, radiator is topped off, no air in the system, no bogging or electrical problems either

 

Do you think it was really that hot, or is the guage reading wrong? Are/were both the top and bottom rad hoses a similar temp? Gotta figure out if it's an issue with the sensor/guage or a real overheating situation.

The sensor for the guage is not the same as the sensor the PCM uses, BTW.

 

Im pretty positive it wasnt running that hot... I had the car turned off for a good hour and a half.. and the temp outside was 40.. In that amount of time the engine would cool off practicly all the way.. also when I popped the hood it didnt feel hot at all, i even took the radiator cap off with no problems... I just turned my car on with the cap off... after a few minutes the antifreeze starting rising to the top slowly... Another thing that might not have anything to do with this is I just put a API airfoil in, Its not the type that sits flush it kinda sits in the elbow.. I dont tihnk it would have anything to do with this but stranger things have happend so I took it out.

 

I can't imagine that the air foil would do anything. Looks like maybe an issue with the sensor or wiring - maybe you knocked a wire loose when you put that air foil in. Good luck! I gotta split.

 

thanks for the help

 

UPdate, I disconnected the Temp gauge sensor.. Ofcourse the needle went to the bottom, When I connected it back it went to the top, So I took out the sensor along with the coolent that flowed out after the coolent wasnt even warm, The the sensor was kind of dull with alittle corrosion so I dremled it abit to clean it up, Put it back in and once I connected it the temp needle went right back up.... So???

 

That is so funny. I have been on these forums for months and have not seen anyone with that problem. The funny part is everytime I have a problem someone else has the problem at the same time that ive never seen before...

Anyway it just started 2 days ago same exact problem as him. However after its pegged at 280 and says check guages, maybe after 30 seconds of driving, stop and go, it goes back to normal, instantly. It has been doing this a lot in the last 2 days, atleast 6 times now. Does anyone know the prob? Only thing I know is my car leaks oil faster than I can put it in just about and I seem to have a wiring issue. My headlight stays out until I tap it, as does my trunk light when the trunk is open, I have to thump the rear carpet by the taillights to activate the light. Don't know if any of that is relavant but thats my issues.

We would both love a resolve to this issue.

BTW it is def not that hot,even with my oil leak, my engine would have been throwing hot water all over the place. It seems to be a sensor or short in the wiring system. Any advice?

 

For starters you should get another sensor to see what happens.
The guage sensor is a different part # than the PCM sensor (front of WP).
Unless you have the part number I wouldn't trust any parts store to sell it other than a dealer.
The headlight/tail light issue could be the bulbs are getting weak and are on their way to burning out.

 

Part numer for guage coolant sensor is 25037332
Runs about $20 at Advance Auto...

 

My guess goes to the sensor. Its an electrical problem no doubt.

Marvin

 

Use a logging tool to see what the PCM thinks the temp is. It gets it's temp from the water pump, the dash gets it from the cylinder head.

Check your wiring, maybe something's gotten melted by headers?

 

I have a problem just like this. My low coolant sensor comes on a lot. The needle will raise up, sometimes just part of the way, others all the way, then immediatly drop down back to where it should be. Which sensor has gone bad?

It usually happens within a few minutes of the car starting

 

Low coolant sensor is in the radiator, to stop it from coming on, just unplug it. It's prone to go out on these cars.