My Engine Temp Gauge doesnt work. It just stays at the lowest setting. It does move a little when you turn the key. But it just stays there all the time untill you shut it off.Could someone tell me on how to tell whats wrong with it? Its a 97 1500 v6. Thank you.

 

its going to be your temp sending unit.. kinda a bitch to replace.. its like right behind , underneath the alt. .. easier to take the alt off.. and becarefull of the little black clip harness that plugs into the back.. sucks when you break it and the keeper doesnt work...

also..when you go to the parts store,, make SURE they give you the right one.. mine went from reading nothing, to super super hot.. they game me the deisel version for the 5.9

yours should be ok tho..since its a V6,,,

 

Thanks alot shott! Im off to the store now.

 

Hope that fixes it. Usually a bad ect sensor will throw a code and you will get a CE light.I forget the #, something about coolantfailed to reach operating temp within alloted amount of time or something.Don't know about the v6's though. I read elsewhere that the instrument cluster is 1 part #. If one gauge goes bad you have to replace the whole thing.

 

Could also be a stuck thermostat though. If the thermo is stuck all the way open the engine will never get to the right temp. I've had it happen on vehicles before.

Replace the sending unit first like shott said, its easier then replacing the thermo. If that doesn't fix it get a new thermostat.

 

I got it, put it on and no go. I think i did the wrong one though. Does the sending unit for the gauge have 1 wire or two? I did the 2 wire one and it was located between the alt. and the ac compressor. I also did it at night and i dont think i pluged it in all the way (tight fit and engine was hot!). Ill take a look at it in the morning. Thank you for all of your information.

 

when you took the sensor out.. did coolant start flowing out of the hole?

either way if you told the parts guy the right sensor and the new one threaded in then its gotta be right..

well that was the cheeper/easier option first

like the others said try the thermostat next.. little more involved in changing that.

real quick.. start the truck and let it idle for 10 mins (or run out for a quick drive) and see if you can get any heat out of the vents.. if its not rippinghot (especially in the summer time) then your tstat might be stuck open like they said above.

thats what i thought at first when mine went and mine never threw a code for some reason,,, drove it better then 300 miles before i got it fixed...

 

Yea i think the gauge is workin now. It says 135 so i shut the truck off took a gauge to the radiator and it says 120.The problem is its not getting hot enough. The heater only blows out warm air when warmed up. So im gona do the Tstat now. Should i get the 180?

 

I did a 190 t-stat. Still the same thing. Whats the other temperature sensor called? Its right behing the alt. and has one purple wire coming from it. CouldI just put acheapo aftermarket Gauge in it?