Fluctuating temp needle?

[Nimble]

My 95 M3 has a slight issue where the temp gauge needle will randomly move from striaght up, to just a hair to the right of center. Then it will move back fown to center. Is this normal? It tends to do this more on humid days if that helps at all. It has a brand new cooling system, so that isn't the problem.

I've heard that there are 2 coolant temp sensors, one for the OBC/ECU, and one for the actual temp gauge, is this true? If so, where do I get a new one to control my temp gauge?

[Bernanke]

no its not, stock temp gauge should never move past middle, either your car is overheating or your coolant mixture is too much % of coolant.

[Darlantan]

check your aux fan fuse. To check if your aux fan is working, turn on the AC and look in front of the car to see if the fan is spinning.

[Hellrot Sachin]

check your aux fan fuse. To check if your aux fan is working, turn on the AC and look in front of the car to see if the fan is spinning.

I've been having similar issues with my 99.. Anyway, I checked and the fan turns on when the AC is running.. but only runs for 10 seconds on, 10 off.. there is a click and the engine is louder when the fan is turning.. normal?

Sachin

[Nimble]

I've been having similar issues with my 99.. Anyway, I checked and the fan turns on when the AC is running.. but only runs for 10 seconds on, 10 off.. there is a click and the engine is louder when the fan is turning.. normal?

Sachin

Yep, that's normal. When your temp gauge goes up, how far is it going? Because mine is literally maybe a mm or 2 up from center, and I know it's not overheating. I've seen the needle move up when it is overheating, not good.

OT: I read your thread on Eurotek about your experience at Renn-Art and followed suit. I just had a power steering leak fix and a O2 sensor replaced for only $150 bucks! Renn-Art rocks! I need brakes too really bad though, how much did they charge you for a full job labor wise? I have all the parts and sensors ready to go.

[Geno325is]

NO- a hair after the middle tick/line is normal. If its way past that( like 3/4 ) then start worrying. That gauge runs right to red if your overheating, so youd know right away.

[Hellrot Sachin]

Yep, that's normal. When your temp gauge goes up, how far is it going? Because mine is literally maybe a mm or 2 up from center, and I know it's not overheating. I've seen the needle move up when it is overheating, not good.

OT: I read your thread on Eurotek about your experience at Renn-Art and followed suit. I just had a power steering leak fix and a O2 sensor replaced for only $150 bucks! Renn-Art rocks! I need brakes too really bad though, how much did they charge you for a full job labor wise? I have all the parts and sensors ready to go.

Mine sits just a hair past midline, but used to sit at midline.. Anyway, glad to hear you had a good experience.. I actually saw your car there last week (Wednesday) when I had stopped by.. Very nice Avus Blue.. They charged $220 for all the labor and everything, but that was on their $55/hour February labor special.. They charge 4 hours labor.

Sachin

[shim]

time for a lower temp thermostat......

[eneyeengee]

im having the opposite problem. btw this only happens when it is cold out like 50 degrees or below.

my car will take forever to reach the middle temp. and the times where it gets there fast the needle will drop back down to 1/3-1/2 of the middle again. and take forever to get back up to the middle. It sucks cause i can't push the car past 3k until it is ready. it this normal?

[Bernanke]

it happened to me a while ago, alot of times coolant mixture can really mess with the stock gagues. the stock gauge is NOT a temperature gauge, i repeat it does NOT actually measure temperature. The temp gauge measure the voltage current of the coolant in the mixture and converts that into a electrical signal which then moves the gauge. its a really stupid method but whatever i guess. It will only go past middle until it reaches a certain temp where the coolants properties change as temperature rises. i personally thing its a stupid sytem but i guess they did it so people would not complain about temps. if your coolant % is "too low" gauge will go below the middle, iff too much coolant % the gauge will go higher than the middle.

[beatniks325]

what about those race guys that run only water wetter and water? does their stock guage read higher? I'm not sure the guage has any connection at all with the percentage of coolant to water.

eneyeengee, your opposite problem is most likely a stuck open t-stat.

Nimble, does having the heat on full blast effect the needle's movement?

[Nimble]

im having the opposite problem. btw this only happens when it is cold out like 50 degrees or below.

my car will take forever to reach the middle temp. and the times where it gets there fast the needle will drop back down to 1/3-1/2 of the middle again. and take forever to get back up to the middle. It sucks cause i can't push the car past 3k until it is ready. it this normal?

your thermostat is stuck open. Just replace that and it won't open until the engine is fully warmed up.

[Bernanke]

it can be thermostat as well but alot of times coolant mixture can play a huge part in temp gauge acting weird