# Temperature gauge

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** gauges\
**Created:** [March 19, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971 "2008-03-19T05:35:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![charlesbyrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@charlesbyrd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/charlesbyrd)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971/1 "2008-03-19T05:35:40Z")

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Temperature gauge on 1991 F150 pegged out to cold side–Truck runs OK considering age. what do i look for? All other gauges look fine

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**Author:** ![87\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/f14d63/32.png) [@87\_Ranger](https://community.cartalk.com/u/87_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971/2 "2008-03-19T06:04:54Z")

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Try this simple little test: remove the wire from the sending unit, ground it to the engine & turn the key to run.

If the gauge moves to full hot, replace the sending unit.

If the gauge does’nt move, look for a break in the wire or a bad gauge.

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**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 10:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971/3 "2008-03-19T10:37:50Z")

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I bet your temp sensor isn’t working. Same thing happened to my 01 Impala. Replaced the temp sensor, and it was mended.

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/temperature-gauge/11971/4 "2008-03-19T21:44:17Z")

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The most common cause of a temperature gauge reading cold is that the coolant is cold. Does your heat work? Does the motor ever get all the way hot? Stuck open thermostats are much more common than failing gauges or senders.