so driving to chicago today i noticed my temp gauge only a hair above 1/4 . this is the 98 sl2 btw. if i do 60mph or less itll run about 3/8 but if i go faster it drops to barely above 1/4. is that strange? i am a little confused by it.
something i noticed
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It would be interesting to somehow measure if that engine running cool is causing a drop in MPG's, and if so by how much?
I would also suspect the thermostat is stuck open, or if the vehicle were new to you, and some previous owner worked on it, possibly, someone left the thermostat out of it, maybe on purpose to help if it was over-heating in traffic.
I would also suspect the thermostat is stuck open, or if the vehicle were new to you, and some previous owner worked on it, possibly, someone left the thermostat out of it, maybe on purpose to help if it was over-heating in traffic.
Originally Posted By: JRed
Thermostat stuck open, perhaps?
yup. had the same thing and behavior out of a 98 2.2 ltr Cavi.. sucked if you sat in a drivethrough to long.. she started getting warm. That said, It was my beater and i was on a mission for years to put as little money into the car as i could..
got it for $2,000 put 50,000 on it sold it for $600 7 years later.. I put money into tires brakes, OCI's AND front bearings.. i sold it still running but the tranny was starting to make odd noises.. time to unload.
Thermostat stuck open, perhaps?
yup. had the same thing and behavior out of a 98 2.2 ltr Cavi.. sucked if you sat in a drivethrough to long.. she started getting warm. That said, It was my beater and i was on a mission for years to put as little money into the car as i could..
got it for $2,000 put 50,000 on it sold it for $600 7 years later.. I put money into tires brakes, OCI's AND front bearings.. i sold it still running but the tranny was starting to make odd noises.. time to unload.
heater works good and thermostat is only 5 weeks old or so. the radiator has been replacd and is running green antifreeze. my everyday fuel mileage of in town cruising driving is 31mpg
Are you sure that's not where it always is? I ask because my wife had a 1997 SC2 when we got married and that car only put the temperature needle a hair above the first mark. But the heater would run you out of the car, too, so I think that's just where the gauge sat in that car.
T-stat is stuck open. Same issue with my previous 96. A new 195F thermostat should fix it, assuming that the ECTS has been replaced and is working properly.
it is a 195 t stat. its 5 weeks old ......i would hope it wouldnt fail so early. i am on my honeymoon i was just watching the nation wide race. my wife is asleep. so i am on bitog
I know that some car models will actually show this reading because it is normal. My Accord is one of them, when the coolant temp is normal the needle will only be at the bottom 1/3 of the gauge.
I would go to one of the Saturn forums and ask around there, it might be that this is normal operating parameters for the model.
I would go to one of the Saturn forums and ask around there, it might be that this is normal operating parameters for the model.
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What brand of t-stat? New doesn't always mean good. If it's a Stant, I would try another t-stat.
it is a napa t stat.
Change your coolant temp sensor plug. Very common problem on old Saturns. I had a 96 SL2 that used to show it ran cold on the temp gauge, I replaced the coolant temp sensor plug with a 3 pin LED computer power connector and everything worked properly after that
the plug doesn't show corrosion or anything doesn't that mean its ok?
the ECTS is the NUMBER ONE cause of most issues on original saturns (meaning, plastic cars with 1.9L engines)
make sure you have a brass one; you have to remove it to check. replace it and the connector.
make sure you have a brass one; you have to remove it to check. replace it and the connector.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
the plug doesn't show corrosion or anything doesn't that mean its ok?
no. they are tiny wires and may lose continuity.
the plug doesn't show corrosion or anything doesn't that mean its ok?
no. they are tiny wires and may lose continuity.
The temp gauge readings are about normal for what I see and what customer cars show over the years. As far as the ECT temp sender for the computer goes being a 1998 you should have a brass body sensor already but if not change it. To test the temp sensor of the engine I usually go by when the fans turn on, if it goes to 3/4 gauge then the fan turns on the ECT is reading normal. The newer style Saturns don't read that same way but the olders ones have always tested normal like that. Yes I'm figuring on the gauge reading correctly to do the ect temp test but I have never had a Saturn temp gauge reading problem just problems with the old plastic body ECT sensor which is a cheap and easy fix.
ects is pretty new and brass. how could i diagnose the wires
If you have access to a obd2 reader get actual numbers of the coolant temp. Find out what's normal range and go from there. For fun today, with the ac on and highs in the 100's mine was reading 203. That's the top end of the normal range of my 2002 Tacoma.
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