Temp gauge stuck on a '97

[97expV8]

Hi everyone, I've been noticing that my temperature gauge has stuck at about 1/3 the way up. Even when I turn the key off it sits there. Has this happened to anyone else? I don't know if its the sending unit or the actual gauge in the instrument cluster. I did hook up my OBD2 tester and got no errors. The truck does not seem to overheat or anything and the coolant is clean and at the right level. The high idle during warmup seems to function properly as well. Does anyone know of any testing procedures for both the sending unit and the gauge? I've searched the forum and didn't find anything. So any replies or direction to a post I missed would be appreciated.
Thanks,
John

 

[97expV8]

I still don't know what to test other than popping in a new sensor...any help would be appreciated.

 

[bobflood]

I still don't know what to test other than popping in a new sensor...any help would be appreciated.

Pull wire off sender unit and see if guage drops. Then ground sensor wire and see if guage goes to top. If needle moves thru this process, then sender is probably bad. If not, then guage is probably bad.

 

[97expV8]

Thanks bobflood, I'll give that a try.

 

[yavapaires]

Take the wire off the sensor/sending unit, insert a small phillips screwdriver into the wire connector and hold it to ground. With the key on, observe the gauge. If it doesn't move, the gauge is bad.

 

[yavapaires]

Sorry about posting essentially the same answer as bobflood. I guess I didn't scroll down far enough.