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Thread: Temp gauge

  1. #1
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    Temp gauge

    What would cause my temp gauge to Kenneth self all the way hot come back to the middle pain itself again and then again one more time and keep doing it???

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  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by 300kplus View Post
    What would cause my temp gauge to Kenneth self all the way hot come back to the middle pain itself again and then again one more time and keep doing it???

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    It depends. Does it go hot when applying gas or when idle? Explain thoroughly what happens before and after the symptoms show up

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  3. #3
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    "Kenneth self" ​What does that mean?


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    "Kenneth self" ​What does that mean?
    Sorry guys. Voice texting SUUUUUUUUCKS!!!!

    Okay so let me start over and I can I'm voice texting so I will proofread it this time as last time I was driving and I panicked when it did that.
    The car is missing I'm getting ready to put plugs in. I pulled codes and number 4 is misfiring. The temperature gauge goes all the way and pins itself to the right hot position period then it comes back and does this again repeatedly three or four times. I'm getting ready to look in the radiator and to check the level after it has cooled off which will be soon. That's it that's what happens. Thanks again guys oh yeah one more thing sucks sucks sucks :-)

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  5. #5
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    Supplement to TEMP GUAGE

    After I pulled codes and found out number four was misfiring,
    It wasn't a constant misfiring but the temp gauge needle did the same thing a couple times. This time it is a constant mess which started on a drive of about 14 miles. So with a constant or with an unnoticeable Miss, this scenario has happened twice now...

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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 300kplus View Post
    Supplement to TEMP GUAGE

    After I pulled codes and found out number four was misfiring,
    It wasn't a constant misfiring but the temp gauge needle did the same thing a couple times. This time it is a constant mess which started on a drive of about 14 miles. So with a constant or with an unnoticeable Miss, this scenario has happened twice now...

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    Is this characteristics of a thermostat going bad? It's one of the only thing I've never changed relative to the cooling system

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  7. #7
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    I suspect the dual temp sensor.

    Get a new phone. My Moto G4+ Droid has a flawless dictation function. I simply don't use the keypad, unless I sometimes need to correct text.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    I suspect the dual temp sensor.

    Get a new phone. My Moto G4+ Droid has a flawless dictation function. I simply don't use the keypad, unless I sometimes need to correct text.
    Hahaha! Yeah... Got'cha!

    Where is the dual temp sensor located? Can you go after market on it and if so what brands please?

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  9. #9
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    It's in the top of the 'stat housing. Most BMW online stores carry reputable brands.

    A bad 'stat will not cause an instantaneous event.
    Last edited by edjack; 04-21-2018 at 06:40 PM.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    It's in the top of the 'stat housing. Most BMW online stores carry reputable brands.

    A bad 'stat will not cause an instantaneous event.
    Thanks for this.

    I discovered my pressure release switch for my A/C system was blown. Replaced it, had the system vacuumed down & recharged. My car has seemed to "correct" itself??
    She is definitely running the way she did b4 the work...
    I will OFCOURSE monitor the behavior but will be replacing the spark plugs soon...

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  11. #11
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by 300kplus View Post
    The car is missing
    Call the police and have them put out an APB.

    Hopefully the plugs fix the misfire. If it comes back, suspect the coils and coil boots.

    Re: the temp gauge.... do you mean it would slowly go up as car warmed up then come back down etc? Or it would cycle sweep left/right/left/right immediately? If the latter, certain electrical short circuit or low voltage issues cause the cluster to do that. I think it's a failsafe alert thing to indicate "HEY SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE". Either that or its some component failing to be able to power up completely. Either way, it means "short or no batter power" usually. Maybe your AC switch was somehow shorting out something else? That's not an unreasonable hypothesis.
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Call the police and have them put out an APB.

    Hopefully the plugs fix the misfire. If it comes back, suspect the coils and coil boots.

    Re: the temp gauge.... do you mean it would slowly go up as car warmed up then come back down etc? Or it would cycle sweep left/right/left/right immediately? If the latter, certain electrical short circuit or low voltage issues cause the cluster to do that. I think it's a failsafe alert thing to indicate "HEY SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE". Either that or its some component failing to be able to power up completely. Either way, it means "short or no batter power" usually. Maybe your AC switch was somehow shorting out something else? That's not an unreasonable hypothesis.
    Gotcha Gotcha, Thanks!
    I think it's tied to my parasitic battery drain and I've been chasing down periodically. Very very strange it comes and goes. Sometimes the car goes to sleep, sometimes it doesn't.

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