1995 Plymouth Acclaim (Dodge Spirit), 2.5L.
I just picked this car up about a week ago. I completely redid the cooling system, got it all bled out, the car runs and drives perfect. Problem I have is the temp gauge rides around the 2nd line under the HOT mark. Is this normal for the 4 cylinder cars?: This is where it goes up to before the thermostat opens, then it falls to just over half, then back up.

 

That's too hot. Either the thermostat is sticking, or you have another problem in there. Look on the drivers side, front corner of the motor, where the head meets the block, and evidence of coolant there?

 

That point is where the thermostat opens. Shortly after the fan kicks in.
I have no evidence of coolant anywhere, all components are new in the cooling system.
Is it possible the sender for the temp gauge is bad?

 

Another thought I just had:
I recall my other Acclaim doing this same thing years ago. Ended up being a faulty instrument cluster.

Wonder if this is the same thing?

 

Either way is possible. Have scanner that will read data? See what the PCM thinks engine temp is.

 

Sadly I do not. I know a couple local shops that do, but I'd rather spend the $5-10 on the sender and see if that's it, seeings they'll want to charge me an hour of labor to plug it in.

 

That seems perfectly reasonable.

 

Issue found. Head gasket was on it's way out, leaking exhaust into the cooling system, leading to it running hotter than it should.

 

Headgaskets were an issue on those motors. Be sure and buy QUALITY replacements.

 

Headgasket and subsequent rocker arm replaced this weekend (oil port clogged from stop leak caused it to spit the arm).

All seems well, running at the 1st notch above cold to halfway when driving.