Faulty gauge.

[young_]

I figure this is off topic enough because it's about an integra, and not a civic.

Anyway hopefully someone can help me. My temp gauge on my 1996 Acura Integra LS seems to work when it wants to. Sometimes it will be at what I can only assume is operating temperature (not far below half) where at times the gauge will drop all the way to the C as if it's not even on. Sometimes it sits in the middle. The people on Club Integra think it's a stuck thermostat but I just can't see how.

My guess is the...
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Temperature-Switch/1996-Acura-Integra/_/N-j589qZ91shz?counter=0&itemIdentifier=19140_77401_0_
Engine Coolant Temperature Sender

-Temperature sending unit sends a signal to the temperature gauge on the instrument panel
-When not replaced, vehicle may experience inaccurate temperature gauge function

Does this sound right? If so can anyone tell me where it's located? Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated, as always.

 

[95CTR]

Just guessing from what I remeber from a friends 97, but it should be a two wire plug, near the thermostat housing, but dont quote me on it. And for.some reason I'm seeming to remember the pluG to be green.

 

[Blood_Shot]

man, a .34 second google search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1LENP_ENUS452&=&q=integra+coolant+temp+sensor&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=1859l9937l0l12482l12l11l0l0l0l0l385l2349l0.2.4.3l9l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=T5gJT6bcKuOQ2QXw4OWcAQ&biw=1366&bih=618&sei=UZgJT-jZLqqg2gWEtfC2Aw

 

[young_]

man, a .34 second google search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1G1LENP_ENUS452&=&q=integra+coolant+temp+sensor&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=1859l9937l0l12482l12l11l0l0l0l0l385l2349l0.2.4.3l9l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=T5gJT6bcKuOQ2QXw4OWcAQ&biw=1366&bih=618&sei=UZgJT-jZLqqg2gWEtfC2Aw

Man I looked all over but all I could find was the coolant temperature sensor. Not the sending unit. Thanks man! Guess I should have checked Images. I figured all I'd find there was Pictures of the part itself.

 

[young_]

So I got the temperature switch (Engine coolant temperature sender) and it fixed the gauge. The gauge sat at a quarter for a while but then when I went to move the car it climbed to about three quarters and is sitting there. Not running hot, just up there pretty far. I'm thinking maybe it has the wrong temperature thermostat or maybe a bad thermostat. The cap looks new too. Any Ideas?

 

[95CTR]

i would just do a thermostat next i guess, they're cheap and easy, only thing i could think of.... or drive it around for a few hours and see if it trys to peak..

 

[young_]

I just got the thermostat and installed it. Held steady at a quarter about half a mile down the road. Then it went back up to half, and then to three quarters. Floated around three quarters and a half for a while. Any other suggestions? :/

Also bought a new cap and put that on.

 

[95CTR]

only thing i would think is that you have a pin hole some where in a hose or something little like that, but i have no clue... after you drive it do you smell coolent anywere in the engine bay?

 

[young_]

only thing i would think is that you have a pin hole some where in a hose or something little like that, but i have no clue... after you drive it do you smell coolent anywere in the engine bay?

Nope. No leaks or anything. I've been reading up and I might have some air in the system. Gonna try bleeding the system in a few.

 

[95CTR]

yeah i just thought of air in it a few minutes ago lol.

 

[emerican]

I was gonna say bleed the system and then let us know.

 

[young_]

bled, the system. No more air bubbles. Discovered the fan isn't kicking in though. Not sure if that's my only problem but it's a problem nevertheless. Researching it now. I know the fan motor has a relay and lots of wiring to check.

 

[young_]

Fuse for the fan is good, fan comes on when the AC is on so the motor for the fan is fine. I don't think the fan is my problem though because it's not overheating when it's sitting still, only when it's moving down the road. Talked to a very reputable mechanic friend of mine (import mechanic been working on cars whole life) He said it'd be best to check the temperature of the motor with a perometer (laser thermometer) and see if the gauge is accurate. But other than that he said it sounds like a clogged radiator to him. He said it doesn't take much to maintain operating temperature when stopped, but that it takes more work from the radiator to maintain temp when the car is moving. I hate that I'm trying this shotgun approach but it gets a lot of new parts on the car at the same time. Guess I'll be replacing the radiator soon. Any other ideas?

 

[95CTR]

well depending on price, you could try a radiator flush first....

 

[Blood_Shot]

you may be grounding out somewhere as well, like if your car is traveling along the road and an open wire is touching from the movement. If you bled the system and you did it right you would know if you had blockage somewhere

 

[young_]

The gauge is bad
The car was sitting for an hour and a half out in the cold, rainy weather and the motor was cooled down so much I could touch the manifold with my bare hands. Got in the car, cranked it, temp went right to running temperature.

Also, the needle went all the way to the H and I popped the hood and there was no steaming, no hissing, no water boiling out of the radiator. Nothing. The valve cover was even cool enough for me to hold my hand against it.

My mechanic friend thinks I got a crappy coolant temperature sender. He recommends only OEM parts and stressed that especially for an Acura.

Going to buy an aftermarket coolant temperature gauge tomorrow just so I'll know my temperature and feel better about driving it. The thermostat I replaced today is rated at 170 degrees, so from my understanding my operating temperature should be around 190 or so. I'll post back tomorrow morning to tell if it really was just the gauge. But I'm pretty sure the sender's just bad.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[Blood_Shot]

f**k paying 4x as much for an OEM coolant temp sensor

 

[young_]

f*** paying 4x as much for an OEM coolant temp sensor

3x as much

Autozone = 10
Honda = 30

But yeah I feel ya. But it's pretty evident that It's not wanting to work with that sender. Leaving to get an aftermarket gauge right now.

 

[young_]

Mechanic buddy of mine told me to put the old sender back in and it should be good. He said the thermostat was my only problem in the first place.

He was right

I had to look for that thing though. I lost it in my fiance's yard. Took a metal detector and ten minutes, but I found it

So happy that it's fixed. thanks for the advice though everyone

 

[95CTR]

word, glad to hear you got it fixed.