I have a 02 Stratus with the 2.7 in it. Last week I noticed my temp gauge max out for about 10 seconds. Today I was using my heater and at times it would just quit heating. I would drive a few miles and it would just start again. It done it the whole time I was driving. I have read other places about a bleeder valve located just above the engine end of the radiator hose and sometimes it needs to be bled ..I know where that is, I have also noticed an electrical plug right next to it..I am far from being a mechanic.. could that sensor be inop ? I would appreciate all advice.

Thanks
Kevin

 

i also have an '02 2.7 se that i have yet to have a (big) prob with. to me it sounds like you have an air bubble going through your cooling system. i would check a few other things first.

1. when your heater stops heating does the fan blower motor stop? it's hard to tell when your driving down the road. it's a common prob to have the motor work only on high (cheap to fix). this is caused by a resistor/relay on the motor. if yours is starting to go it MAY work sometimes but not always.

2. do the temp guage and heating prob happen at the same time or one after the other (like an air bubble going through the cooling sys)? this will give the prob that you stated.

3. i don't yet have a shop manual for my strat. however, my '96 neon book (can get at any big parts chain, $15-20 for any car on the road) has a test for the temp sensor, might be cheaper than a new sensor.

i'd try from #3-1, always go cheapest fix first (the cheaper the part, the cheaper it was to make). let us know the deal, good luck.