My daugjter calls me that the temp gauge is all the way hot and she had only gone a half mile from a cold start. She pulled over as soon as she could and shut the motor off.
Got to her with the code reader. Checked coolant level and it was good.Turn key on and gague when straight to hot. Started car and the temp from the code reader showed 170°. When engine warned up it stayed between 195° to 203°. After I got the car home I turned it off. The gague rested at the normal operating with the key off. Turn key on and it went straight to hot again.

It appears that the gauge is not calibrated correctly. Does this look like gague replacement or is there a way to recalibrate the gauge? I will research the TSB's and the forum tonight to see what I can find. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate you input.

Bob

 

More knowledgeable than I will opine but the temp gauge is useless. Install a RealGauge(JagWrangler.com). Makes the gague a real gauge. Even I could install it.

 

Disconnect the battery negative terminal for 5 minutes and then reconnect it. This will force the gauge controller chip in the instrument cluster to reset itself.

You will also need to reset your windows due to the battery disconnection.

 

Bob, don't forget there were plenty of defective water pumps, I had one in my 98.

Worked ok until really hot weather with a.c. on. I pulled over at mechanics to show him, then noticed when parked, increased rpms dropped the temp!

He knew right away it was the water pump. I'm just wondering if one of 2 broken blades could cause what you see.

There was a tsb about these defects, but probably old news to you.

John

 

John, I changed the water pump when I did the tensioners. The code reader shows the car is not overheating and the temperature sensor is working since it is sending the temps to the code reader

 

I will try this in the morning.

Thanks, Bob

 

That did the trick. Followed you proceedure and gauge is working properly. Curious what might of caused this. Battery is just a couple of months old and no other problems or codes.

Thanks for the help, Bob

 

Glad it worked. Chalk it up to an electrical glitch unless it happens again. The memory contents inside of the stepper motor controller somehow got hosed. Could be anything from a loose connection to a failing solder connection to passing through a powerful radio signal to lightning to cosmic rays (seriously).

 

That way lies madness.

 

Thanks to all. I noticed today that I was spelling gauge wrong yesterday. Can I use this same proceedure to reset the memory of an old fart like me.

 

Just get "spell check" added to your computer. Or if you're doing this on a phone, please proof read!

 

Keep in mind the "gauge" is not reading changes. It stops at about 185f and moves when it is too late. Get the JagWrangler.com's RealGauge. Make it a real gauge(hay, I wonder if he thought about this when he named it<g>).

 

Bob,

I fixed you gague. Sadly, only the spelling - I couldn't do anything about the accuracy.

Graham

 

Spelling errors like this frankly make my gorge rise.

 

There is a lesson here.I have a 2000 xk8 (owned 12 mths) and have always been fussy with cooling of my vehicle motors.
As there was no previous info on water pump replacement I replaced that and thermostat( removed 'titie) at 12 o'clock.
Was idling recently after this work was done 2 mths ago and reading manual of sorts . noticed a pool of red radiator fluid creeping past the open door.Looked at guage and at halfway as usual.Got out and the return hose from the radiator had blown off. Not much water left so the guage sensor? was reading hot air .. So glad I saw someone recommend a replacement sensible guage( Jagwrangler.com). Will be doing that.Thanks for that posting.

 

Sorry about the spelling of Gauge.. Here in NZ center is centre in US and meter is metre in US I think..

 

hey bob, i want to bring this back cause it is happening to me and i can't say what it is as of yet,
coolant, pump, thermostat, coolant pipe with seals replaced 6,000 miles ago
then the expansion tank went just now, i replaced it and with your help got the plug back in, now coincidentally i have this random over heating issue when the car is not really hot?