temp gauge acting crazy

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rockreadyyj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

va

• Jun 24, 2006

• #1

99 xj 4.0 we went wheeling last weekend and a couple hours through the trail the check engine light came on and then the temp gauge started going from 210 all the way the the red then back to 210 then to 100 back and fourth pauseing randomly. the jeep was running fine, not hot at all. i tried changing the sensor and it didn't change anything anyone ran into this. any ideas. its still doing it
thanks
mike

 

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canadianwheeler

NAXJA Forum User

Location

canada

• Jun 24, 2006

• #2

Try changing your thermastat. Also check your water pump. When my water pump went it wasnt leaking but my temp gauge was jumping around everywhere.

 

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rockreadyyj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

va

• Jun 24, 2006

• #3

its not actually running hot the guage ismoving too fast for that its got to be electrical. i am thinking its the computer any ideas

 

5-90

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Hammerspace

• Jun 24, 2006

• #4

Simplest explanation first - replace the sensor. Since OBD-II uses a single sensor for pretty much everything temperature-related, start there.

Thermistors are usually pretty solid, but they can go to Hell REALLY fast once they get started...

5-90

 

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rockreadyyj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

va

• Jun 25, 2006

• #5

already tried changing the sensor

 

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Rambo

NAXJA Forum User

Location

SOUTH FLORIDA

• Jun 25, 2006

• #6

it happend to me too, i unplugged the o2 plug(wire part) and found it was full of water, so i cleaned it an added some dielectric grease and never did it again!

 

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ROADLESS

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Idaho

• Jun 26, 2006

• #7

Here's another good one. My son's 88XJ temp gauge pegs all the way out, but only when he turns on his headlights! Then as you dim the interior/instrument lights it goes back down like a rheostat switch! Bet no one has heard of this and if so, enlighten me!

 

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90XJLtd

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Oahu, HI

• Oct 5, 2008

• #8

ROADLESS said:

Here's another good one. My son's 88XJ temp gauge pegs all the way out, but only when he turns on his headlights! Then as you dim the interior/instrument lights it goes back down like a rheostat switch! Bet no one has heard of this and if so, enlighten me!

Click to expand...

I know this thread is really old but this is exactly what I'm looking for right now. I'm trying to help a buddy fix up his 88 and it is a mess in every way. What the heck do the lights have to do with the temp gauge! Somebody help please!:dunno:

 

juniorXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

portland

• Oct 5, 2008

• #9

electrical. thats how. grounds grounds grounds. at least start there.

 

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90XJLtd

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Oahu, HI

• Oct 5, 2008

• #10

I started my own thread on the lights making it skyrocket to focus on that subject itself. I will check the grounds. Thanks. Here it is.

http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?p=244070678#post244070678

 

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birchlakeXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Melrose, MN

• Oct 5, 2008

• #11

If you changed out the temp sensor already, then the problem would most likely be in the wiring/connector for that circuit OR possibly (not probably) the gauge itself. Good Luck!