Changed thermastat( 180 ) last week, but I still notice A Temp climb close to the RED. On some days the needle goes no-where near the red zone. I'm wondering if there is some inaccurate Tenp readings . Plus the needle dosen't move smothly it is vey jumpy at times. Flushed rad last fall and with the new 180 stat it does run cooler on the hi-way . Some days the gauge seems to be fine.

Sounds like the temp sending unit is going.

Maybe bad head gasket. I saw the same thing on my 1992 Plymouth Acclaim (remanuf engine installed in 199 in 2000. Many times the temp gauge shot up close to the red line before it quickly went down to normal temp. I changed the thermostat from 192 to 180 F, still the same thing. The radiator was flushed a couple of times, still the same thing. I took it to several machenics, and they could not found anything wrong (and did not check the head gasket problem), and said that the guage or sensor was not right. About less than 1 year later, I noticed the head gasket leak (the engine oil was kind of watery; water found inside the oil cap). The head gasket was gone, which cost me $800 to have it replaced. After the head gasket job, the temp gauge worked perfectly. Because I did not discover the head gasket problem early enough, the remanuf engine'* 3-year warranty expired bafore the head gasket was found bad. FYI, the engine was made by Bond(*?). It was ridiculous that the head gasket only lasted 2 years.

I don't think it is a head gasket...engine was re-built last fall. Temp. sending unit is agood place to start. Anyone know where it is located and is hard to replace?

Look underneath your TB, driver'* side of the lower intake, on the end pointing towards the driver'* side strut tower. You'll see it. Just above the heatshield on the exhaust crossover pipe. If you have trouble locating it some of us have some engine bay pics that will help.....wait a min....



See the heat shield on the crossover? Look directly above it. You'll see the black wiring harness. Right below where the TB would be....if it was there.

thanks Will . But realizing it now I do have a warranty for my car I purchaesd in Jan.I believe the sending unit is covered. Now would't that be easy?

Damn you. All that trouble and you're gonna let some dirtbag fix it for free? No busted knuckles, no beer cans in the engine bay, no coolant for the kitties to drink?

Go for it. Beats fixing it yourself :P