Engine Temp gauge - '99 RAM Van

[Esprit80]

Yo,


Here's my second problem:


The engine temperature gauge is going nuts... :flippy:

When I crank the engine, the needle moves a bit upwards and then goes back to zero, the Engine Check light is coming up, but otherwise the engine works fine. When I drive some kilome... eh... miles it happens that the needle is going tot normal level, returns to zero, at a time it goes to full scale, the Check Gage light comes up, after 3 seconds the needle goes back to zero... and so on... .

I have checked allready the temperature of the engine, it seems to be normal, the hoses are warm but not extreme hot, the level of the cooling fluid is normal, the water doesn't boil, everything seems to be normal... !!??

Should there be a problem at the Engine Coolant Sensor? Bad connections? Erosion at the connector? And eh... where can I find this sensor... ??
Checking it out, cleaned or should it be replaced?

All sugestions are welcome :help:

Xavier :wavey:

[Dodgevanman]

Sounds as if the coolant sensor is going bad. There's two sensors if I'm not mistaken....one for the gauge and one for the engine computer. If you need the sensor, I can buy it here and mail it to you.

[van-nut]

All of you guys with '98 - '03 model vans : Dodge built in a really slick diagnostic feature into the instrument cluster. There is a "self test" which will run thru a check mode which lights up all odometer segments so you can see if they all work, then it lights up each of the indicator bulbs (turn sig, high beam, ect), then it will position each gauge (one at a time) at 3 different settings to verify if the gauge itself is responding to its input signal.

All of this is one big test. To run the test, put the key in the ignition, then press and hold the trip meter reset button in, then turn the key to the "RUN" position. NOT START!! Keep holding the button in for about 10 seconds and the test will begin. Then you can release the button. Cool, huh?

Pete

[Esprit80]

Great!

I'll make the test tomorrow.

Today, the problem was less coming up. Probably it has something related with the weather? The past days where really bad with flood rains, today we saw the sun coming from behind the clouds and the outside temp was some bit higher. Maybe bad connection at the sensor...?

Grtz,

Xavier ;)

[stev]

Pete,

That does sound really neat! I'll give it a try the next time I refill the gas tank. That way, my trip OD will be reset to zero too. :)

Stev

[Esprit80]

Hi,

Update:

The gauges are fine, the problem seems to be find at the sensor itself.
My dealer hadn't one in stock, he will order one and I have to make another appointment if the fault should repeat, because right now everything seems to be allright... .


Grtz,

Xavier :rck: