First off I feel like and idiot..... more later. my 98 Neon espresso dohc has an issue with the temperature gage that has cost me numerous hours of work in gasket replacement and engine swaps not to mention numerous thermostat and sending unit replacements. and all this cost money also the machining of two heads and pressure testing. I did all this before I purchaced a $17.00 mechanical temperature gage. to find that after a few minutes of running the dash gage is pegged over the top and the motor is at 160 deg F. has anyone ever had this problem before? how do I fix this

 

Have you tried removing the needle and seeing if it's stuck on there?

 

When I shut the vehicle off the needle goes to stone cold and when the vehicle is cold and warming up the needle gradually goes up and reaches the extreme hot position before the fan turns on. so I dont think there is a needle problem.