Is my cluster bad? Fuel gauge and temperature gauge are not working?

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 135,000 MILES
What could make my temperature gauge not to work?
Thursday, February 28th, 2013 AT 3:20 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
Before doing anything else check the coolant level in the radiator to be sure you have enough coolant.

With the ighition off check to see if the guage goes to zero. Then turn the ign. Switch on (but do not start the engine) to see if the guage moves at all (if so guage is working).

Check for 5 volts at the coolant temperature sensor (located just below where the top radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing) it has an orange/black wire going to it. Unplug it to see it 5 volts are present. If so, momentarily (split second) ground the wire while a partner watches the guage to see if it "jumps" if so the guage is working. Next suspect the sensor as being bad.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 AT 12:55 AM
Tiny
MBDIAZSA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
The fuel gauge and temperature gauge are not working; needles are below zero. Will it correct the problem if I change the cluster assembly and will it worth replacing it? Thanks so much.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,554 POSTS
This is typical when the cluster goes out. When this happens in the shop we remove the cluster and send it to be rebuilt. Here is a video that shows the job being done on a similar car:

https://youtu.be/_HEC44xENxw

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken

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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:34 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEY288
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 253,700 MILES
Just bought van with knowledge of the thermostat needing replaced. Bought from the 2nd owner since 80,000 miles. Now has 253700. My issues are is that I replaced thermostat drove fine with barely hot heat for about 300 miles. Now temp gauge jumps hot to cold, also have had it flushed and a new coolant sensor. Drove fine for 50-60 miles and now temp gauge is either extremly high or really low. Mild warm heat, drives awesome still. Getting frustrated.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Get the radiator cleaned by a radiator repair shop.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEY288
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Would that cause my temp gauge to bounce around? Im not losing any antifreeze as in intake or a head gasket problem. Would a water pump have any effects?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Radiators will cause temp gauges to pendulum.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEY288
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thanks I am replacing thermostat again tomorrow and continue to bleed the system aswell as checking into getting radiator cleaned
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEY288
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
O replaced thermostat and have heat in front but not back is there a bleeder valve for the back heat system
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CTILLMAN87
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 3.4L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Temperature gauge on dash always reads cold never moves. Tested thermostat thermostat is good replaced temp sender. Flushed coolant system. Still no reading. What do I do from here? Thank you.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEY288
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Still giving me same problem would intake gasket do it?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TY ANDERSON
  • MECHANIC
  • 684 POSTS
I would suspect the gauge itself in the instrument cluster. If the vehicle never got up to operating temperature then this would trigger the service engine soon warning light to come on. So I don't think the issue is the engine's cooling system. Does the gauges cycle when you turn the ignition switch from off to on (engine not running)?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CTILLMAN87
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
All gauges respond except temp. Also read about a ground test (touch green wire contact on temp sensor connector to ground key on engine off) and gauge did not respond.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TY ANDERSON
  • MECHANIC
  • 684 POSTS
It should of moved. There are some businesses that will repair these instrument clusters or replacement is required to fix this issue. Depending on what you want to do, you could wire in a new aftermarket temperature gauge.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:36 PM (Merged)
Tiny
THEDEAC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE
Engine Cooling problem
1999 Chevy Venture 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

changed thermostat, bled both bleeder screws. Changed low coolant sensor, changed water pump and the coolant gauge still rises then normal, rises to red, then normal, then low coolant light on, then off, level goes back up then down. Any idea whats the problem?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KNOWYOURAUTO
  • MECHANIC
  • 113 POSTS
I am assuming this all happens while sitting. If not post back and we can rethink it.

As a test, warm the engine for about 10 minutes (do not let it overheat of course). Set the parking brake, depress the brake pedal and if possible set a wheel block down. Next, press the gas pedal until the engine is up to no more than 1500 rpm and monitor the temp gauge for about 5 minutes. Again, do not let it overheat.

Post back with the results and we will determine the cause.

Regards.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INDYRAYJ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
My van has a cooling system problem. During Idle, after my van gets up to operating temperature, my temp. Guage fluxuates between 3/4 to red hot with the warning light. Seems to only happen while @ idle. The temp. Guage goes down to almost normal but slightly fluctuates while driving at normal speed. The fans are working and it is full of antifreeze. Not sure how to bleed the air out of the system. Replaced the thermostat before winter and it had heat. The A/C however has not worked since we bought the van a couple years ago. Not sure what I need to do next. Help?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASON03152012
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
My first thought would be that there is air in the cooling system. If this van has the 3400 V6 engine it, there is going to be a bleed valve on the upper radiator hose housing, the second one is on the passenger side of the vehicle. Its on a tube that runs around the motor. Its going to be a black metal line. You want to crack the lower one first and bleed the air out. You want only a steady stream of antifreeze. Once the air is bled out of that one, crack the one higher up. Make sure there is a steady stream there also, refill radiator and overflow tank. While running and the cap is off of the radiator, check to make sure that the antifreeze is coming back out the top, the only concern I have is with it being a 3400 V6, the odds of it needing head gaskets are likely. Hope this helps you out some, let me know if there is anything else.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
INDYRAYJ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The van is a 3.1 liter. What is the procedure to bleed the air out of that size engine?
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASON03152012
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
The 3.1 or 3100 vs. 3.4 or 3400 are virtually the same, the bleed out procedure should be the same. Except on the 3100 the bleeder is on the passenger side, on the top of the motor. It is on a a black metal tube, next to the power steering pump. Check to make sure coolant is full, and start the vehicle. Once it gets up to normal operating temperatures, crack that bleeder open slowly. You should have a small amount of coolant coming from bleeder. Let it bleed a few seconds then close it, and wait a couple minutes. Then crack it again and repeat this process until there is no more air in the system.
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Saturday, August 15th, 2020 AT 12:37 PM (Merged)

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