Temperature Gauge-98 Ford Contour

Tiny
DSMDDN11
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD CONTOUR
  • 193,000 MILES
Recently I have noticed that while driving the temperature gauge starts behaving very erratically. It jumps from cold to warm(about the middle of the gauge) and then just drops back to cold. I don't really feel comfortable driving the car due to the fact that since the gauge isn't marking the temperature correctly I won't know if the car is overheating. I know the car doesn't have a thermostat so I know it can't be that. Really looking for an explanation as to why the gauge is jumping up and down. Faulty sensor? Faulty temperature sender?
Thursday, May 17th, 2012 AT 8:08 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,127 POSTS
You need to check the temperature sending unit and the wiring to it.
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Thursday, May 17th, 2012 AT 8:10 PM
Tiny
DSMDDN11
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
There is a little bit of fraying to the wiring coming out of the temperature sending unit. Would that be enough to cause the fluctuations?
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Thursday, May 17th, 2012 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,127 POSTS
It really matters of there is enough pulled that would cause a poor connection. Check it. That is a good place to start.
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Thursday, May 17th, 2012 AT 8:20 PM

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