Change the temp sender.
"Pentastar" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I drive a Plymouth Sundance 2.5. I'm having several issues with my
> temperature gauge. My car doesn't seem to actually overheat, but the
> temperature gauge reads on the high side sometimes. This seems to only
> happen in hotter weather when cruising the freeway at higher speeds
> (and also when running the A/C as well). Basically, when I'm just
> driving normally around town and stuff on smaller highways, my temp
> gauge usually stays at about 180-185 degrees (I have a 180 degree
> thermostat) when going down the road and fan comes on at 211 degrees
> when stopped.
>
> Now when I drive at higher speeds on the highway (like 80 MPH or so)
> for a while, my temperature gauge will rise to about 200 degrees (1/2
> on gauge) and peak at about 210 degrees (a little over halfway) when
> cruising. This is a little more obvious with the A/C running. And when
> I stop at red lights or sit in a parking lot (mainly after extended
> highway cruises), the engine heats up to what appears to be 225 degrees
> (almost the 3/4 mark) and the fan comes on and cools it back down to
> 195. When driving around town for a long time (w/o interstate driving),
> my temperature gauge will usually stay at around 190 degrees when
> driving down the road.
>
> The temperature gauge doesn't do any fast swings, though.
>
> My thermostat is most certainly opening properly. When the temperature
> rises over 210 degrees, the upper radiator hose feels hot, so the
> thermostat is open. Usually, when the temperature gauge gets to 180
> degrees (1/4 mark) when I first start driving, the upper radiator hose
> becomes hot. So, the thermostat opens on time. All of the air is bled
> out of the system (I drilled a small hole on top of thermostat to
> self-bleed the air).
>
> Late last year, I had the head gasket changed, head resurfaced, and a
> valve job done. Early this year, I replaced the radiator, hoses, and
> radiator cap. I changed the thermostat last week. I replaced the
> alternator belt (which drives water pump) several days ago. My coolant
> was changed earlier in the year when radiator was installed.
>
> Is this behavior normal? Could the temperature gauge be rising after
> extended periods of time primarily because there's extra load on the
> engine and the weather is hot (I live in the south)?
>