Temp Gauge Problems

[earnbud]

Hi guys , i have a new problem that just happened the other day my vehicle has been pretty good until the other morning i went to start my vehicle and noticed that when turning my vehicle on the gauge went immediately to the cold side and i drive the vehicle everyday so its nothing like its been sitting

Anyways i noticed when driving it fluctuates when driving like when i go faster the gauge goes up and when i slow down the gauge goes down , one thing i did notice was if i only leave my vehicle off for a few minutes like between 5 and 10 minutes that when i get back in the vehicle the gauge stays in the same place

So im guessing the sensor near the upper radiator hose on the block is bad , but i wanted a second opinion , if so then its a cheap fix autozone has it for $11.99 and if it is that how hard is it to replace

 

[earnbud]

Can someone just tell me if im on the right track , i looked it up and it seems it could either be the switch or the actual sensor

How can i easily find out

 

[BrianDye]

Could be a bad thermostat..

 

[my98nnj]

When you start it for the first time in the morning one would expect it to read cold.
The sensor is obviously working.
Check the coolant level.

 

[earnbud]

The coolant levels are fine , there definitely seems to be a problem because one i turn the engine on it moves all the way to cold and if i park the vehicle for 2 hours and get back in , it will still go all the way to cold , and the gauge moves up and down depending on how fast or slow im going

 

[BrianDye]

Sounds like a stuck open thermostat maybe, I say replace it. Its only like 10$ at AZ and it cant hurt.