# Temp Gauge going into the red

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 26, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833 "2008-01-26T00:03:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ragamuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@ragamuffin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ragamuffin)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/1 "2008-01-26T00:03:34Z")

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We have a 2002 Ford Focus Wagon. Just recently I have had to use the heat, it didn’t seem like the air coming out of the vents was getting any warmer and then I noticed that the temp gauge was into the red. The next time I drove the car the gauge again went into the red and it was only about a 5 mile drive at the most.  
  
  
  
 What is the possible cause?

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/2 "2008-01-26T00:07:59Z")

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Low coolant

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/3 "2008-01-26T00:12:21Z")

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Agreed. Check the coolant in the radiator, when the engine is cool. Checking the coolant overflow bottle isn’t sufficient.

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**Author:** ![ragamuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@ragamuffin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ragamuffin)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/4 "2008-01-26T00:26:51Z")

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Man you guys are quick! Thank you for your answers and that is what I will do tomorrow morning.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/5 "2008-01-26T01:15:00Z")

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Hint, don’t try and drive it with the coolant that low.

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**Author:** ![shadetree51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@shadetree51](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadetree51)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/6 "2008-01-26T17:53:50Z")

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Your thermostate could be stuck shut so car over heats. they are easy to change an cheap too.

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**Author:** ![ragamuffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@ragamuffin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ragamuffin)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temp-gauge-going-into-the-red/9833/7 "2008-01-28T21:35:11Z")

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I wanted to let you guys know that it was the coolant. I refilled and it was fine. Thanx!!!