I think my Temp Gauge is Wrong

[igotyofire]

I still have the normal stock factory guage. And lately it has been saying my car is running hott even on the freeway cruising at night it will peg the L on the guage..but doesn't go to the red or anything...specially after i rape the throttle a lil bit it will stay like that if it wasn't before even 10mins later. My car has a pretty new radiator that was fine..only thing i think is strange is every maybe 6,000 miles im guessing i hafta add like some water to the colant reservoir since ill see a low coolant light on. but ive never seen coolant on the ground but i remember long time ago i had seen some on the ABS unit but lately havent noticed any.

Does the temperature sending unit ever go bad? car only has 110,000 miles,heh

Also i notice when i roll down both windows it seems the guage instantly raises. So im thinking some type of power draw is affecting it. and since it behaves like that i believe that maybe it reading at the L on the guage because somthing like the highspeed fan will kick on and stay on. but i dunno if its really kicking on since i cant tell right now

im thinking that buying a new radiator could be pointless since it acts funny when i click on my power window switches. i still have the stock thermastat too. whatever the case is i dont like this and would like some help to resolve this.

 

[HISSIN50]

I would install a mechanical temp gauge and a balanced 180* stat (for your Cali weather a 180 will do well). I really like the Mr Gasket line of t-stats. 10 bucks.

This will mow down two birds and allow you to see what is really going on.

Good luck.

 

[urban96]

also might want to run another engine ground. my gauges were acting up before i upgraded mine

 

[drclaw09]

The grave

Sorry to bring this one back, But i just got my 95 cobra and I am having the exact same problem. The only indication of overheating is the stock gauge and changing the electrical loads will make the needle move. The temp will hang out at the "L" which, if that was the actual temp, is ridiculously hot, however I never get any coolant overflow and the car runs well.

I just ordered a new Mr. G thermostat and radiator cap.


Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

Jason

 

[The Green GT]

His problem was probably the stock gauge. They are crap.

 

[igotyofire]

Sorry to bring this one back, But i just got my 95 cobra and I am having the exact same problem. The only indication of overheating is the stock gauge and changing the electrical loads will make the needle move. The temp will hang out at the "L" which, if that was the actual temp, is ridiculously hot, however I never get any coolant overflow and the car runs well.

I just ordered a new Mr. G thermostat and radiator cap.


Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

Jason

actually my problem was the car was really over heating, i couldn't believe it but i was going to buy a mishimoto radiator and i decided to atleast try the cheaper option of a new thermastat. So i ordered a mr. gasket thermastat and it solved the problem. Im guessing the stock 192t-stat that was in their just stopped cycling properly or wasn't opening all the way. Now my temps have gotten that hot again but it now will cool down and the car runs way cooler than it did under normal driving conditions in this hot cali weather it just hangs around the N and O most of the time and if its cold at night even below the N. My Radiator was pretty new so i wasn't so convinced that was the problem. a

The only thing is i still do have the problem with the guages acting funny if i turn the AC on or use the power windows then the temp guage usually does rise. im guessing a mechanical guage could fix that as doesn't a mechanical guage tap right into the coolant line?