Temp sender/temp gauge issue

[Outlander]

Resurrecting and old post here, but it seems to be the most likely answer to a problem I'm having with my 95 Limited.

Turdle07-12-2009, 10:54 AM
The problem is the 98 gauge. Somewhere in the gauge there is a resistance change from year to year
This is sending a higher voltage back to the PCM triggering the CEL-even with no real existing problem.
Try switching back to the 95 gauge. The gauges are modular and will "pull out" of the cluster.

My temp gauge was determined to be bad, and was recently replaced with a factory gauge...I'm unsure of when it was manufactured. Subsequently the new temp gauge would slowly climb all the way up to just about the red line and remain there. The mechanic replaced the thermostat, and checked the cooling system...no problems there. A check of the engine temp with an IR gun revealed the engine is running at the proper temperature.

Is there an alternative solution if I can't locate a '95 gauge?

 

[SoNic67]

Insert a resistor in series with the wire from sensor...
Before that, read the temperature with a code reader capable of showing the running parameters. It will read the other temperature sensor.

 

[Outlander]

I'll look into that...thank you.

 

[Outlander]

I managed to find a '95 cluster on Ebay, installed it, and the temp gauge works like it's supposed to.

Thanks to Turdle for the revelation (to me, anyway) of the different resistance in the gauges. There is at least one shop in Milwaukee that isn't aware of that issue.

Thanks also to Bigtigexplorer for the write-up on cluster replacement so many years ago. It was a tremendous help.

Now on to the dozen or so other issues with my X.