How to know if problem is thermostat, temp gauge or sensor or something else?
5

Asked by NoviceMech3 Dec 16, 2018 at 06:16 PM about the 2004 Chevrolet Impala

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2004 Chevy Impala: the temperature gauge shot way up to the red,
& even past it, & is staying there, even when the car sits overnight. The
radiator is full, and I added the proper coolant to the reservoir. The car is not
overheating -- in fact, everything seems to be fine (to me as a non-
mechanically-inclined person anyway). So now what? How do I know if it's
the thermostat, temperature gauge, radiator, or something else?

3 Answers
44,010

Hornet_2497 answered 6 years ago

If the car sits overnight with the motor off, it certainly can not be overheating. I would think the sending unit shorted out. As a test, unplug the coolant temperature sending unit and see if the gauge goes down when the engine is running. It should go down on most cars. Then replace the sender.

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10

GuruBWRP9 answered 6 years ago

There can also be a problem with the electrical motor that moves the needle of the guage. I was lucky and it was on the fuel needle. Unfortunately, the fix involves removing the dash display, unsolering old motor and soldering in new one.

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