have a 2.5 L in my 86 CJ7; have a new stock rad installed, and new thermostat OEM temp installed, and anti freeze is topped off. here's my question my temp gauge shows high near H but on line, has anyone heard of the temp sensor going bad and could this be causing the high reading? or should i look else where maybe a cooler thermostat? thanks for reading my problem any thoughts would be helpful
Thanks
I'd doubt that your thermostat is opening at such a really high temp, if in fact your gauge is correct. I had a problem similar to this a few years ago, so I just topped off the radiator, left the cap off, started it and then stuck an external thermometer into the top of the radiator to see how hot it was getting. You can also watch and when the water starts swirling around in the radiator, thats the point when your thermostat is opening, and you can note that temperature both on the gauge inside and the one you have stuck in the fill port. What you may have is the same issue I had, when I discovered that for some reason, my thermostat was opening, just not all the way, so it was restricting the flow enough to cause the overheating condition. However, if your thermometer is reading a moderate temp but your dash gauge is showing you on the edge of overheating, then it is probably your gauge or sending unit.
Oh, and one more thought. Years ago, I had a guy bring me a car that was overheating, and had just had a new thermostat installed. When I pulled the housing off, I discovered that the person working on it had installed the thermostat upside down/backwards.....the only reason I mention this, is because you said that the thermostat had recently been replaced......if you replaced it yourself, I will assume you did it right, then forget I ever mentioned this!....lol
Good luck!
