Wacky temp gauge - Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS)??

[shanone9]

Hi,

I seem to have a wacky temp gauge, needle spikes/goes hot (motor not overheating to my knowledge) then may hit a bump or turn on fan and then will drop to normal?!!
Bad wiring, water pump on fritz or possibly the Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS)??

Any ideas?

Shanon
'01 X xe

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[Muadeeb]

There's two temperature probes, one for the dash and one for the ecu. I believe the dash one is a simple single wire with an unsealed connector. Check the connection there, and if the rivet on the contact is loose

 

[Prime]

@Muadeeb is right. Have you put an OBD scanner on it and looked at the computer's reading Vs the gauge reading?