Hello,

I own a 2004 chevrolet Cavalier. It has about 83,000 miles on it. I am
experianceing a problem with the temperature gauge. It is all over the
place. The car is not over heating or running strange. I know that the water
pump has been seaping for a long time. The car has warentee left so that is
being taken care of. The warentee only covers powertrain. So the temp gauge
issue is going to have to be resolve by me.
I am not sure where to start looking. Sensor or Wiring. There is no
check engine light on either. I just hope it isn't the dash pod. That is
expensive I am sure. As far as the temp sensor that is cheap and reasonably
easy to repair. Wiring could be interesting. I am going to study the wiring
schematic in my haynes book and see what wires have to do with the temp
gauge.
If anyone has experianced this same issue. Please let me know what
fixed the problem. It will give me insight on where to start testing to see
where the problem lies.

Thanks Victor

"gmman1978" <gmman1978 (AT) localnet (DOT) com> wrote


take the plug off the one that goes to the guage, not the one for the
computer. You will know because the check engine light will come on if you
got the wrong one.

Once the plug is off, and you have deturmined that it is for the guage,
connect the leads to it. Select the ohms on the multimeter.

Start the car, make sure it is cold.let it warm up, and watch the readout.
it should either go from high to low, or vice verca. It should not fluctuate
to much.

If it is fluctuating, then its the sensor. If not, than it is something
else.

Micheal

those sensors (especially for cavaliers) are CHEAP. I would recommend
replacing it in any case. I've had one go bad on me too on a 98
cavalier. If it's fluctuating, it could be a ground that's gotten
loose, or rusted, but that'd be unusual fo such a young car, plus, you
would experience more problems with electronics. I agree with Michael
(above) to check the wiring, but might as well do the thermostat too.

"gmman1978" <> wrote in message news:
snip

I don't know car warantys, but your problem is
the temperature gauge on the dash indicator that
something is amiss with the engine. It seems to
me that that is the part of the engine, which is
part of the power train, so why wouldn't it be
covered?