So I went to go pick my mom up from work. We are on our way home (about half way) & I look down at my dash like I do every so often to check my gauges. & I see my engine temp just alittle away from the red zone. So I pop the car into nutral kill the motor and turn into a parking lot. I poped the hood & don't see coolant leaking anywhere & the motor didn't feely overly hott. So I let it cool down and then glently drive home watching the temp. It never went above 200 the rest (1.5miles) of the way home. Once home I let the car idle for a little bit too and the gauge didn't go past 200. What does this sound like to everyone else? A bad coolant temp sensor? The outside temp when this happened was about 44 degrees F and I was going about 30mph when I saw the temp gauge.

Although I think this is unrelated to this problem tonight I did change.... My pcv valve, fuel filter, oil/filter, spark plugs today.


Ed

You dont think thermostat? Do you buy new 195 for winter or use same one?

yeah sounds like a thermostat problem. Your temp sensor i guess could give a false reading but it is pretty unlikely. You said you were going 30mph at the time you saw it? how long were you driving/ sitting at such low speeds? cuz 180 or not your tstat wont kick in right away at those speeds. but right under red??? no leaks? cuz that'* the only thing id say is low on coolant so your temp sensor may heat but not your engine....
check everything out then let us know

It'* the original one that was in there. I have a drilled 180 in the garage. But I know it'* like a $5 part so I probably should go get a new one soon (also when it warms up in a month or 2 a flush is in order.) & I was going 30 when I saw it but I was on the road for about 5-6 mins & in that 5 mins the top speed I hit was 40mph.

i've noticed my gauge likes to fall right above the red, then after a bit it will all of a sudden pop back up to 200ish liek normal. almmost seems like its getting lazy...

checked to see if the fans are working?

@ the time this happened I didn't notice if they were running but I did kill the motor and coast into a parking lot instantly. But the only thing I heard was me making up new swear words, trying not to say something bad in front of my mom .

If the car was overheating and the fans weren't working, I think we've found your problem.

Start it up in the driveway, turn on the air, and see if the fans come on. If not, go from there.

At the time you were headed home.. what kind of vehicle were you following and how closely?

Sounds odd..doesn't it? I've seen certain shapes of vehicles disturb the air in front of my cars over the years that would cause them to heat up. Basically the car in front can change the air and keep it from going through your radiator.

As long as you are driving over 30mph the fans don't need to be running, normal airflow should take care of cooling. Keep an eye on it.. if it does it again..change the thermostat...I'm thinking you found a place behind a car w/o enough air.

During warmer weather I try to put more space between me and the car in front of me for that reason alone. But there was not anyone else on the road & the air temp was in the low 40'*. It looks like I'm going to end up throwing in a new thermostsat just in case.