Help !! Temperature gauge is haunted by ghosts !!!
June 21st, 2017, 8:59 PM
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Help !! Temperature gauge is haunted by ghosts !!!
2002 Suburban 1500 LS 4x4 5.3
Issue: Temperature gauge works intermittently, with strange symptoms.
Details:
When you start it up cold, it will go up a tiny bit but wont go over 160.
Sometimes it works normally on startup, and reads properly.
Out of the blue it can start or stop working.
Sometimes you turn the key on, and it reads normally but after you start the engine it quickly drops to 160 and stays there.
Works normally for days, stops working for days.
Faulty temp sensor code came up once, but didn't come back after clearing the codes.
Vehicle may be running rich, smell of fuel in the exhaust sometimes.
Checked the electrical connectors on the sensor and the instrument cluster
Replaced the temp sensor (twice)
Tried banging on the instrument cluster
No coolant leaks or other cooling system issues.
As a mechanic, I HATE driving around without knowing my engine temp. Please throw out some ideas. Running out of options, and I don't want to go with an aftermarket gauge setup.
I don't believe that the sensor is bad. I don't think the stepper motor is bad, because it reacts to input - like when the gauges is working normally and then malfunctions as soon as the engine starts. Plus I'm getting OBD2 codes about the engine temp sensor, drawing the suspicion away from the stepper.
Ideas?
Issue: Temperature gauge works intermittently, with strange symptoms.
Details:
When you start it up cold, it will go up a tiny bit but wont go over 160.
Sometimes it works normally on startup, and reads properly.
Out of the blue it can start or stop working.
Sometimes you turn the key on, and it reads normally but after you start the engine it quickly drops to 160 and stays there.
Works normally for days, stops working for days.
Faulty temp sensor code came up once, but didn't come back after clearing the codes.
Vehicle may be running rich, smell of fuel in the exhaust sometimes.
Checked the electrical connectors on the sensor and the instrument cluster
Replaced the temp sensor (twice)
Tried banging on the instrument cluster
No coolant leaks or other cooling system issues.
As a mechanic, I HATE driving around without knowing my engine temp. Please throw out some ideas. Running out of options, and I don't want to go with an aftermarket gauge setup.
I don't believe that the sensor is bad. I don't think the stepper motor is bad, because it reacts to input - like when the gauges is working normally and then malfunctions as soon as the engine starts. Plus I'm getting OBD2 codes about the engine temp sensor, drawing the suspicion away from the stepper.
Ideas?
