Gauge Cluster Coolant Temperature Gauge Stuck on High (1 Viewer)

[Greyota]

Looking for some help here - my coolant temperature gauge is stuck on High.

I have a 14-in-1 digital gauge with a separate coolant temp sensor, and it reads normal temps in the 180's and 190's, so I'm not overheating. Today, I replaced the old sender with a brand new one, part number 83420-16040 and as soon as I started it, the needle moved quickly to high and stays there.

The engine harness is brand new as of last January.

Any suggestions?

 

[Outsane]

Pull the gauge out and see if the needle is physically stuck. Bugs can climb in there.

 

[Greyota]

I can check that, but the needle moves when I start the engine, so it seems like the needle is able to move, just pegs to high almost immediately.

 

[1973Guppie]

probably grounding out and reading full, look at sensor and wiring......

 

[charlay61]

The sensor is basically grounding it through a variable resistor... So, unhook the sensor and see if the gauge still moves up. Maybe the wire leading to the sensor is shorting to ground somewhere. Or, maybe the third wire from the gauge cluster is no longer connected to Ground.

 

[Greyota]

The sensor is basically grounding it through a variable resistor... So, unhook the sensor and see if the gauge still moves up. Maybe the wire leading to the sensor is shorting to ground somewhere. Or, maybe the third wire from the gauge cluster is no longer connected to Ground.

Ok, so I went out this morning and at a cold start, the gauge started at Cold, and after a brief moment of the engine running, the needle started quickly making it's way up to High and stayed there. I then unplugged the sensor, and it dropped back down to Cold.

I also checked the ground in the left kick panel, where the Brown wire is run to, and everything looks just fine there, nothing loose and no cuts or anything in the wires. My wiring diagram is different than the one you posted, it only shows 2 wires (Brown to ground, and Green to the sender).

I suppose the next check is the back of the gauge cluster to see if anything looks off there.

 

[charlay61]

Ok, so I went out this morning and at a cold start, the gauge started at Cold, and after a brief moment of the engine running, the needle started quickly making it's way up to High and stayed there. I then unplugged the sensor, and it dropped back down to Cold.

I also checked the ground in the left kick panel, where the Brown wire is run to, and everything looks just fine there, nothing loose and no cuts or anything in the wires. My wiring diagram is different than the one you posted, it only shows 2 wires (Brown to ground, and Green to the sender).

View attachment 3943399

I suppose the next check is the back of the gauge cluster to see if anything looks off there.

Yeeah i would have a look at the cluster circuit and look for obvious defects (also look at the cluster connector). If nothing found, i would try testing both individual wires (Gnd and sensor) with a multimeter and most important, with an Incandescent TEST Light. and make sure the wires are not getting too resistive when current goes through. I have seen wires reading 12volts with a multimeter, but they can't light up a test light because the wire is half-****ed somewhere.

 

[Greyota]

So, I pulled the cluster and everything checks out just fine back there.

Also, may or may not be related, but my front left turn signal also is not working, and it’s not the bulb.