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98 Cavalier temp gauge not working


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Anonymous Poster
fallinuphill44@aol.com

Jun 20, 2009, 4:41 PM

Post #1 of 9 (7688 views)
post icon 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

I have a 98 Cavalier w/ 2.2L and 136k miles on it. Since Ive had the car the gauge has worked on and off. Sometimes reading correctly other times jumping from C to 1/2 and back to C. After reading correctly for a short period of time, noticed it was overheating and replaced Tstat which was stuck closed. Helped for about 2 weeks then overheating started again and fan wasnt kicking on at all. So I replaced fan relay and ECT sensor. After I replaced those I let the car idle to see if the fan would kick on, it kicked on but not until almost overheating. As soon as the fan turned on the temp gauge went dead and check engine light is on and the fan now runs constantly. Can anyone please help? Im not sure what else it could be! Thx


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 20, 2009, 10:37 PM

Post #2 of 9 (7681 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

The part about the temp going very high before the fan came on was the only normal part of your situation. These fans aren't programmed to come on until around 227 to 228 degrees. I know that seems too high but that's how they are supposed to work.

The computer is also programmed to run the fan whenever there is no signal from the temp sender so you could have a problem with the wiring going to the CTS or possibly even the computer itself.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



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Anonymous Poster
fallinuphill44@aol.com

Jun 23, 2009, 3:48 AM

Post #3 of 9 (7667 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Thank you for your advice! It happened to be the piece that actually plugged into the temp sensor. There was almost no wire in the plastic around it. But I did replace that and now have a working temp gauge that doesnt jump around! But once I put that on I waited for the cooling fan to come on and now it doesnt?! Problems problems problems...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 23, 2009, 3:54 AM

Post #4 of 9 (7664 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Like I said, it has to hit about 227 degrees to come on or it should come on right away with the A/C turned on.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



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Anonymous Poster
fallinuphill44@aol.com

Jun 23, 2009, 11:37 AM

Post #5 of 9 (7658 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

I waited for it until the car was pretty close to overheating. And its never came on when I turned the A/C or Defrost on.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 23, 2009, 11:39 AM

Post #6 of 9 (7655 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Check all your fuses first. If they are OK, try jumping power and ground directly to the fan motor to test it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



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Anonymous Poster
fallinuphill44@aol.com

Jun 23, 2009, 1:16 PM

Post #7 of 9 (7649 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Checked fuses all are good. Did what you said about the fan and it started spinning.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 23, 2009, 1:26 PM

Post #8 of 9 (7646 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Then you will have to start testing the circuit using a test light.
Here is the wiring diagram that you will need for that.






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



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Anonymous Poster
fallinuphill44@aol.com

Jun 23, 2009, 2:00 PM

Post #9 of 9 (7641 views)
Re: 98 Cavalier temp gauge not working Sign In

Thank you much! I really appreciate your help






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