Temperature gauge reads hot

Hello,

It sounds like the engine coolant temperature sensor her gone out. Here is a guide to show you what you are in for when doing the job and diagrams below so you can see the location for your car below:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-temperature-sensor-cts-replacement

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers

That did the trick! Thanks for your help, I love this site. ;)

Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Cheers

I have the SE model. When driving the temperature gauge reads in the mid-range which I know is normal. However, whenever I stop at a red light for longer than about thirty seconds or so the temperature gauge goes up about a quarter. It has gone up even more if I was stopped for even longer. It never has gotten to the red mark but has gotten really close. However when I start moving again the temperature goes back down to mid range and stays there. It only goes up when I sit for a while. What is the problem?

The radiator cooling fans are not turning on for you. That is the problem. When you sit still, at a red light, there is no air flow through the radiator. Thus, the engine heats up. When you are moving, there is air flow which cools the radiator and engine. When the engine hits a specified temperature, the temperature sensor sends a signal to the computer which in turn sends power to the fan relay which sends power to the cooling fan making it run. The problem could be any of the things I just mentioned including a bad cooling fan motor.

You need to start by checking to see if there is power to the fan motor. If there is, then the motor is bad. If there is not, you need to either scan the computer when it happens to see if the coolant sensor is sending the correct signal to the computer or start tracing wiring back to see where power is lost.

My engine temperature gauge stayed near the C range this morning, sometimes a little above, sometimes a little below, even after a twenty five mile highway drive. It used to stay between the C and H on a normal drive. Would this happen if there is not enough antifreeze in the radiator or reservoir? Or does this indicate a bad water pump or temperature gauge? I was not able to check the antifreeze level because the engine had not cooled down yet. The radiator was not as hot to the touch as I remember and there was not as much hot air blowing out of the interior heating vents when the fan was turned on high.

Hi ar2cp,

When there is insufficient coolant, the temperature would go up. Two possibilities for the temperature to show low.

1. Thermostat stuck in open position and while driving or with AC on, the engine is being over cooled.

2. Faulty gauge or sending unit.

Test with engine running and AC off with car stationary, if temperature shows correctly after twenty minutes, then it should be the thermostat.

Four cylinder front wheel drive automatic.

Okay, I am doing this for a co-worker. His dashboard temperature gauge was not showing proper temperature it would be all the way to C. After a long while it would move up down. He took it to the shop and was told he needed a new temperature sensor. They quoted him $100.00 to do the job. His question is, where is it located and can he buy the part himself and get a mechanic to put it in? Is that amount of money for the repair about right? Please advise.

$100.00 for that repair is extremely cheap.

The sensor is located on the right side of the engine. It only has one wire going to it.

The temperature gauge goes all crazy it flickers up and down and then suddenly stops pointing toward the H then flickers some more. It never stays still.
What can I do to fix this?
Is it an electrical problem or a sensor that malfunction?
If you can help I would appreciate it.
Thank you

It is most likely the temperature gauge sender.

Sender screws into block/head.