Temp gauge

Lance628

Lance628

New member
My temp gauge doesn't work ing the morning if it's below 45 degrees out but after the Jeep has been run for awhile it and I shut it off and turn it on again it works fine, it also always works when it's warm out an ideas on what could be the cause of this?
 
WJCO

WJCO

Meme King
The sensor. I could give you a list of diag steps, but for 9 bucks, do the sensor, it's semi common anyway. If that doesn't fix it, let us know. I believe it's near the rear of the motor somewhere.
 
Lance628

Lance628

New member
Well changed the sensor and nothing changed is there anything else it could be other then the gauge itself?
 
Skid_Kid

Skid_Kid

New member
Lance628 said:
Engine temp
Click to expand...

The engine coolant temperature gauge gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the engine coolant temperature. This gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The engine coolant temperature gauge is driven by an electronic stepper motor unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the ON or START positions. The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position and provides the following features:

Engine Temperature Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic engine temperature message from the PCM indicating the temperature is between the low end of normal [about 41 °C (105 °F) and the high end of normal [about 124 °C (255 °F) , the gauge needle is moved to the actual relative temperature position on the gauge scale.
Engine Temperature Low Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic engine temperature message from the PCM indicating the temperature is low [at or below about 40 °C (104 °F) , the gauge needle is held below the graduation on the far left end of the gauge scale. The gauge needle remains below the low end of the gauge scale until the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating that the temperature is above the low end of normal, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.
Engine Temperature High or Critical Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic engine temperature message from the PCM indicating the temperature is high [at or above about 127 °C (261 °F), the gauge needle is moved to the red graduation at the high end of the gauge scale, the engine temperature indicator is illuminated and a single chime tone is sounded. The gauge needle remains at the red graduation and the engine temperature indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating that the temperature is below about 124 °C (255 °F), or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. The chime tone feature will only repeat during the same ignition cycle if the engine temperature indicator is cycled OFF and then ON again by the appropriate messages from the PCM.
Communication Error - If the cluster fails to receive an engine temperature message, it will hold the gauge needle at the last indication for about five seconds or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first. After five seconds, the cluster will move the gauge needle to the low end of the gauge scale.
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the engine coolant temperature gauge needle will be swept to several calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the engine coolant temperature sensor to determine the engine operating temperature. The PCM then sends the proper messages to the ElectroMechanical Instrument Cluster (EMIC) (also known as the Cab Compartment Node/CCN). If the instrument cluster turns ON the engine temperature indicator due to a high or critical engine coolant temperature gauge reading, it may indicate that the engine or the engine cooling system requires service.

For proper diagnosis of the engine coolant temperature sensor, the PCM, the EMIC, the CAN data bus or the electronic communication related to engine coolant temperature gauge operation a diagnostic scan tool is required.
 
Lance628

Lance628

New member
Skid_Kid said:
I will dig into it for you when I get to work. You do realize you live in Maine and maybe it doesn't like that much cold! Lol I grew up in Boothbay Harbor. Lol
Click to expand...

No kidding I have a friend that lives there, it's strange when it's below like 50 degrees I can start it and drive it for as long as it want and it won't start working unless after 45 mins or so I turn the key off and back on then it works fine but it's only when it's less then 50 degrees out. You moved from maine to Oregon I take it you enjoy the cold
 
Skid_Kid

Skid_Kid

New member
Lance628 said:
No kidding I have a friend that lives there, it's strange when it's below like 50 degrees I can start it and drive it for as long as it want and it won't start working unless after 45 mins or so I turn the key off and back on then it works fine but it's only when it's less then 50 degrees out. You moved from maine to Oregon I take it you enjoy the cold
Click to expand...

Oh I don't mind the cold at all. Lol. I have lived and been all over the world in the last 16 years. I love both Maine and Oregon, job market is better here.
 
WJCO

WJCO

Meme King
Lance628 said:
So in easy terms I pretty much need to take it in????
Click to expand...

This makes it sound like it's normal:

"Engine Temperature Low Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic engine temperature message from the PCM indicating the temperature is low [at or below about 40 °C (104 °F) , the gauge needle is held below the graduation on the far left end of the gauge scale. The gauge needle remains below the low end of the gauge scale until the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating that the temperature is above the low end of normal, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first."

Or are you saying if it's 45 or lower out, gauge won't work and never does even as engine gets warmer?
 
Lance628

Lance628

New member
WJCO said:
This makes it sound like it's normal:

"Engine Temperature Low Message - Each time the cluster receives an electronic engine temperature message from the PCM indicating the temperature is low [at or below about 40 °C (104 °F) , the gauge needle is held below the graduation on the far left end of the gauge scale. The gauge needle remains below the low end of the gauge scale until the cluster receives a message from the PCM indicating that the temperature is above the low end of normal, or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first."

Or are you saying if it's 45 or lower out, gauge won't work and never does even as engine gets warmer?
Click to expand...

Right unless I cycle the key after The truck itself warms up
 
WJCO

WJCO

Meme King
Lance628 said:
I know I figured being temp related like it is it would've the sensor
Click to expand...

And being that if you turn off the key then on again it works fine is really weird too. That's making me think it's a software issue like a reprogram or something. I wonder if you disconnect the battery and hook it up again, if that would re-set any abnormalities in the software.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom