Temperature gauge stopped working

Tiny
SENN
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 118,000 MILES
What does it mean when temperature gauge stops working and check engine light comes on?
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Sunday, October 25th, 2009 AT 8:56 PM

37 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could mean the coolant temperature sensor-get the computer scanned at Autozone its a free service to find out what's causing it to pop the CEL
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Tuesday, November 13th, 2018 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
ZORG2000
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
Engine Cooling problem
2001 Chevy Malibu 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 80k miles

Year: 2001
Model: Malibu
Engine Size: 3.1L Sti V6 'Good ol reliable' lol
Auto/Manual: Auto
Mileage: 125,000kms

Hi everyone! First post on this site and I hope theres some people still on this thing. And im sorry but I am going to rant!

I bought this car 9 months ago and it seemed ok (i didnt know much about mech's at the time) lets just say I had no idea of the car being the ultimate lemon in north american (i flushed out that beautiful dexcool in the dark trying to save my gaskets after reading about it lol)

Anyways about 2 months ago whilist on a two hour long journey my temp gauge died, didnt make a sound. Just stoped, stuck at stone cold. On a hot day.

Engine check light goes on next day whilist making the hours back home and this makes me nervous as I had overheating prblms on the really hot days when stuck in slow traffic and my cooling system would bleed out the surge tank saftey hose.

Ok so I read a haynes manual and it tells me that the 'Coolant temperature sensor' is responsible for the HUD gauge and for the ECM and tells the ECM when to turn on my fans. Big job for a sensor.

I bought a new sensor and just before I change it. ITS WORKING?
But not for long. It dies in a couple days again

So screw it, I got a deep socket and changed the sensor myself (in the canadian tire parking lot lol). Turn the car on and the gauge works for like a second barely making it a quater way up. And drops and dies again. Engine check light still on even after I unplugged negative battery cable for a few mins.
This is funny overheating in summer and now underheating in winter sigh*

So thats my problem
-Temp Gauge no worky
-Bad (meaning worse) gas milage
-Heater works but barely
-Engine fans always on

any ideas people? Help woud be very much appreciated
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTTY DEE
  • MECHANIC
  • 592 POSTS
Is there a leak in the cooling system? Have you had it scanned for codes?
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JIM H
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 145,000 MILES
Temp gauge just stopped working
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Check the temp sending unit.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RMESSAMORE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Hello,

Just recently the temperature gauge in my wifes car stopped working. I checked the owners manuel to see if there was a fuse for the temperature gauge. There was not. All the rest of the gauges are working in the instrument panel. Can you please offer me an suggestions as to why only the temperature gauge just stopped working. I'm asking with the free question because I'm unemployed and low on money. I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Do you have a check engine light? Could be the coolant temperature sensor out of calibration -also check the wiring
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RMESSAMORE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
There is a check engine light but it has not come on. I also noticed that the electronic engine fan seems to run all the time when the car is running. Could this be connected to the non working temperature gauge some how? Thanks for your earlier quick response.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TAMEOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 140 MILES
The auto headlights and the gas gauge and temp gauge power windows and heater controls have stopped working tried everything
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
The common denominator is the bcm or body control module. Have it scanned for codes.

What is everything you checked?

Roy
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TAMEOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Fuses, relays wires they all checked out fine
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JYDEN09
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 112,000 MILES
My check engine came on. A few weeks later my gas and temp gauge stop working. Now the temp gauge will beep and orange light will come on letting me know car is running hot. All fluids have been checked and at right level. Also, on driver side front tire seem to have a buring smell. New tires, new brakes, now it seem to sqeak and weird noise when I hit a bump like some it going to fall off.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
Have coolant system pressure checked for internal leaks. Check coolant level. Have brakes checked for a frozen caliper.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHN1256
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 165,300 MILES
My 2001 Malibu gives a trouble code readout of PO 128, which according to the definition given on your website means "ECT Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature". The "Check Engine" light is on and the temperature gauge is not working. Does this mean that there is a problem with the thermostat or simply that the engine coolant temperature sending unit is not working? Thanks.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Most of the time with that code I would say bad thermostat but you said the temp gauge is inop. So I would first look at why the temp gauge is inop. Check the wires and connector to it. Do you have. Multi meter to do some testing?
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:41 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANTHONYZ89
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 113,000 MILES
Please help. The Power Windows, Fuel Gauge, Engine Temperature Gauge, Climate Control, and Turn Signals periodically wont work. The power windows, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, and climate control all stop working simultaneously (which is right when the car starts, they have never stopped working during operation of the vehicle). Those 4 Electrical problems always happen together and have never happened separately. Plus, the turn signals go out while driving then will sometimes start working if, I hold down the emergency flashers button while messing with the turn signal control. Thank you in advance!
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Welcome to the forum, you need to do some testing when the problem occurs. I believe the circuits you mentioned, go hot, when you turn on the key. I'd have to check circuits to and from the ignition switch, possible problem with the ignition switch? The power windows have a circuit breaker, pull the circuit breaker, key on, use a test lite on the circuit, should be hot. If it isn't, backtrack the circuit.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GAYLEC
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU
1998 Chevy Malibu

my high beam indecator light will not work, the bulb is not burned out, also the gas gauge and temp. Gauge does not work what can it be we replaced the engine and now have these problems
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RHALL77
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,361 POSTS
Could be if you missed a ground somewhere. I would take it to your dealer, they can hook it up to a tech 2 and turn the light and gauges on to see if they are getting communication. Then you will know if there is a wiring issue or a cluster issue.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:42 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NJ0917
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 290,000 MILES
The fuel gauge and temp gauge went out simultaneously on my chevy Malibu 2001. The fuses are all good wondering what would effect both of them at the same time. My car has also been overheating so I really need the temp gauge.
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:43 AM (Merged)

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