kenavery7

My engine temp has been spiking randomly (from the first line to the middle line), causing the dummy light to come on. After a few minutes, it goes back to normal, and the needle goes back to the regular position. Then it happens all over again.

Supposedly, the thermostat is fairly new (had the car 4 months).

While this is going on, the oil temp gauge does NOT budge at all.

This all occurs when driving at speed, and sitting in traffic... it's not one or the other.

Any advice???

MikTip

Its either a bad wire, between the gauge and the sending unit, the sending unit, or the gauge.

I'd recommend changing the sending unit first, see what happens.

If no fix, change the gauge.

If no fix, finding the bad spot in the wire can be tough...

kenavery7

Sending unit?? What/where is that?

So you don't think it's a thermostat?

MikTip

Find-

"Erratic Coolant Temperature Gauge"

half-way down page-<ul><li><a href="http://20v.org/engprob.htm">http://20v.org/engprob.htm</a</li></ul>

SCarGo02

What about a voltage regulator going bad?

MikTip

<center><img src="http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/C602030949.JPG"></center><p>
Also the board, for the instrument cluster may have issues....

If it were me, I would first replace the temp sender. $7 from WorldPac ;O)

SCarGo02

That's def. worth it, voltage regs are only $7-$10...

MikTip

Last one I seen was $75....

SCarGo02

The instrument cluster VR...

MikTip

DOH! ;O)