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Temperature gauge is not working

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,269 POSTS
They may have loostened or bumped wiring behind the dash. I would take it back and have them recheck their work.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AFB1982
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1998 FORD CONTOUR
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
The temp gauge doesn't go up. I have replaced termostat and temp gauge sensor. I have good heat. All the fuses are good what else could the problem be? Water pump was replaced 1200 miles ago.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If its the water pump it'll be overheating-could be the temperature gauge itself or wiring problem to it
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AFB1982
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Don't really know how to access the wiring but the gauge does move alittle.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAMELACM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD CONTOUR
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 49,000 MILES
About a month back my thermostat went, the car overheated and I had it towed. I had the thermostat replaced and the car worked fine for about a week. Since then the temperature gauge has been acting up. The gauge will go to hot and then back to normal within seconds. The first time it did it, there was no coolant missing. The second time, the coolant was gone in the overflow. I had the replacement thermostat tested and they said it was fine. They found a cracked heating hose, which they replaced. Since then, the car has leaked coolant onto the driveway, and continued heating up and going back to normal within seconds. It has even started going to cold and back to normal within seconds. The last time this happened I could feel that my heat was luke warm. The coolant was gone in the overflow again this time. What is going on!
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
You need to check coolant level and adjust
also you need to have the coolant system pressure check
it sounds like you have a leak
and it need to be checked soon
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MARVINSESSOMS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD CONTOUR
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 88,000 MILES
The temp gage spikes to the red but the car is not running hot could the sensor for the thermostat be bad?
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,269 POSTS
I would make sure it isn't running hot. If it isn't but the temp gauge says it is, then chances are you have a bad temp sending unit.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHCOIA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • FORD CONTOUR
Contour 1995 2L 140,000mi. When I start the car temp. Gauge goes into red. Changed thermostat, also coolant temp. Sensor.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
Check the wiring from the tempeture sending unit to the firewall and see if it is gounding out anywhere
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BHUGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 157 POSTS
Did you say that you changed the water temperature indicator sender?
If your taurus is the same as my explorer, the sensor will read to ground between 73 ohms when the engine is cold and 9.7 ohms when it is hot.
Check it with an ohm meter. And let us know.

Also, if the sensor is within range, with the engine off, check the resistance to ground from the wire going back to the instrument panel. If there is little or no resistance, there is probably a short as mentioned by the M_J_RITZEL's message.

If our suggestions work, or even if they don't, let us know. Vote for us if you think we deserve it.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LENZER38
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1996 FORD CONTOUR
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,800 MILES
1996 ford contour 2.0, temp gauge hot part of normal, replaced coolant temp sensor, temp sensor, when the car is hot its about 170 degrees somethings faulty wiring, when I put in new temp sensor the temp gauge went into the red, the car aint overheating my gauge is messed up I think
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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If you are sure the vehicle isn't overheating, check wiring from the sensor. Make sure it isn't shorting. Also, check connectors to make sure they are in good condition.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRICIA0645
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 FORD CONTOUR
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,058 MILES
In my 97 Ford Contour my temperature gauge only works once in a while. It just usually stays all the way down like it does when the car is off. Why?
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Do you have any issue with the heat and if so suspect, test and replace thermostat
if not check the connector and sensor
by the thermostat housing
good luck
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-1
Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRIS D
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD CONTOUR
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 58,000 MILES
I have a 1999 Ford Contour SE. The temperature gauge barely moved after driving about 10 miles. It was 10 degrees this morning and my boyfriend says I didn't let the car heat up enough. I let it heat up for about 10 minutes. Is there a problem with the temperature gauge or is he right?
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Well, I can tell you that he is wrong. How quickly you drive the car has no effect on how quickly it get up to temperature. There could be a number of reasons. My first suspect would be a bad thermostat but it could be a problem with the temp gauge but if you're not getting sufficient heat, I doubt that. It could also be getting to the proper temp but having a problem with the heater.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRIS D
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for the reply! I am getting sufficient heat, but I just thought it was odd that the temp gauge barely register above C. If I am getting heat, do I need to have this inspected? Also, how long am I supposed to let the car heat up before driving? I read only a few minutes, so I thought 10 minutes was sufficient.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
Yes, you're letting it warm up sufficiently. It sounds like you may have a problem with the temp gauge if you are getting sufficient heat.
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRIS D
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you!
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)

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