R33 Temp Gauge Reading High When Its Not Hot!?

[mike91]

Hey guys I have a 96 gtst and the temp gauge keeps climbing up to off the scale when I go up hills and the fluctuates depending on the slope of the road. Its full of coolant and the overflow isnt spilling out. It only seems to happen when climbing a steep hill then at the top after about 20 seconds of driving it drops back down. Im guessing its a thermostat problem? Has anyone else got any ideas what it could be?

[blind_elk]

Are you still running the factory fan?

The gauge indicates temperature by the sender varying the resistance to earth. Touch the sender end of the wire to an earth, and the gauge will go full scale. So, you mighty have a wiring problem that earths out on uphills - strange, but stranger things have happened.

And yes, it could be a problem with the thermostat not fully opening. New thermostat = cheap attempt to fix.

[Humbla]

May be try a new radiater cap,i replace mine every 2 years.

[Ben C34]

May be try a new radiater cap,i replace mine every 2 years.

lol!

[paulr33]

dont forget there are two sensors

one is the idiot light

one is the guage

does the idiot light come on when the guage goes spazzo? (this means the water is actually that hot and the ECU will start cutting timing)

does the guage come on and idiot light stays off? (this means the gauge sender is spazzo)

[Ben C34]

dont forget there are two sensors

one is the idiot light

one is the guage

does the idiot light come on when the guage goes spazzo? (this means the water is actually that hot and the ECU will start cutting timing)

does the guage come on and idiot light stays off? (this means the gauge sender is spazzo)

There are two sensors, but one is for the gauge and one is for the ecu.

[Ben C34]

also, seeing as it only gets hot when the engine us under more stress, its extremely unlikely that its the sender reading wrong.

[Humbla]

Nissan factory gauges are great for telling porkies.

Is your coolent new ?

Change mine every couple of years,use nulon long life.

Had my 33 11 years now same radiater and clean as a whistle inside.