2005 Chevy Silverado Engine Temp

TRAVIS TROTTER

MEMBER
2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

Engine Cooling problem
2005 Chevy Silverado V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

When the vehicle is warm, I switch the ignition to on, the temp gauge works. When I crank the vehicle the temp gauge goes back down to 160. The vehicle is not running hot. What could this be?

3 Replies

SCOTTY DEE

MECHANIC
592 POSTS

At normal operating tempreature the reading should be about 210 on the gauge. Does the gauge read 160 when it should be up to temp?

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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 AT 2:49 PM

TRAVIS TROTTER

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1 POST

Thank you for the reply. Yes. When I first start the vehicle after driving to operating temp, the gauge will go up and then fall back to 160. This happened all of the sudden. No warning. A little background, the check engine light cam on yesterday, the compas/temp display on the rearview mirror started to cycle on and off, and the amp gauge was at 12 (or less). I replaced the Battery in the vehicle yesterday (dont know if it had anything to do with it)and the temp gauge issue started.

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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 AT 4:03 PM

SCOTTY DEE

MECHANIC
592 POSTS

Do a complete charging system test and verify the alternator output is in range. Did the voltage come back up with the new battery?

We know that the temperature isn't going to "actually" drop 50 degrees in an instant. So obviously there is a continuity or component malfunction. You can verify this with a scan tool connected to the vehicle at operating temperature. There is an Engine Coolant Temperature sensor for the PCM and a Temperature Sending unit for the gauge.

If the scan tool displays 200-210 we know it's the sender to gauge circuit, the sender or the gauge.

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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 AT 4:49 PM