Temprature guage flickering

[sleepery]

I have a 99 Explorer with a temp guage needle that started to flicker about 2 minutes after startup .
It usually reads 1/4 the way up. today it is moving between the 1/4 and 1/2 way point every minute or so .

I replaced the thermostat a while back and the fluid level is ok .
Thanks for any info on this.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

It could be something with the gauge cluster or a temperature sender.

 

[Rand]

is the car even warmed up 2min after startup?

try turning the heat on high and see if it still does it while idling.

if so probably a sender or gauge issue.

you could also hook up a cheap reader and see what the coolant temp is being reported as.

 

[MolaKule]

It could also be you have air in the system. Remove radiator cap and let it warm up and gurgle.

 

[901Memphis]

Should
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
It could also be you have air in the system. Remove radiator cap and let it warm up and gurgle.


+1 - First thing to try.

 

[sleepery]

I drove it for about 40 minutes this morning with no problems .

I then went shopping for about a half hour and noticed it after I started the vehicle .

I just drove it home with the heat on and it seems to be running good aside from the higher than normal readings .

Is the sending/gauge issue an expensive fix ?

Also will remove cap and let run .

 

[MolaKule]

Make sure the heater is on and set to max temp.

I have had problems when air got trapped in the heater coils.

Did you replace the thermostat with the same thermostat temp?

I would replace the sending unit first if this continues. Also check the sending unit wiring to make sure you didn't damage it. Been there done that when the thermostat mount was close to the sending unit.

 

[sleepery]

Just ran it with cap off for 15 minutes heat on high no gurgling .

Temp needle not flickering as much but every minute or so it moves from the 1/4 position to just bellow the 1/2 way position .

I am just glad it is not overheating

It is too cold out to mess with it any more today !

 

[sleepery]

when I replaced the thermostat(a couple of years ago) I had the same thermostat sold to me .
The man double checked the part to try to save me some money but the one I needed was the expensive one .

 

[yonyon]

Try giving the dash a good solid thump when it's acting up and see if that does anything.

 

[sleepery]

Update, I parked on an incline and ran it again with cap off. Had some bubbles come up after about 10 minutes . Then I topped off reserve tank .

I drove it for almost an hour without any flickering of the temp needle but it is reading a little higher on the gauge than before .

It reaches up about 1/3 of the way up at highest and slowly down to the 1/4 mark .
I will continue to monitor it .

Could I have taken in air from a almost empty reserve tank ?

 

[TFB1]

Any sudden movement of a temp gauge is not a heating/varying temp issue, has to be sender, gauge or electrical issue...