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My temp needle use to run about one notch below half. I replaced the temp switch with a low temp switch over the summer and now it runs one needle above the quarter mark (or first mark) on hot days and won't go above it on cold days. I always thought running the car cooler was a good thing. Can't say anything about how my heat functions as I haven't driven it in cold weather since putting in the new switch.
1986 Porsche 911 Targa (guards red/black interior)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe (black)
2005 Acura RL
2004 Toyota Sequoia
(This post was last modified: 11-28-2010, 05:38 PM by
rl968.)
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My Cab used to do that normal reading/peg to the top thing and was rectified by North Hollywood Speedo when they repaired some other issues with my instrument cluster. Culprit was a "variable spring loaded resistor" (isn't that a thermistor or something like that) that has a tendency to go bad over time. Not sure if it's a DIY or not but should be, assuming you can find the correct part to replace and are handy soldering small parts. I've got a couple of spare instrument clusters at this point in case you're ever interested.
- Darryl
1992 Slate Gray Coupe over Carrera Gray Full Leather interior....1 of 1
2006 Cayenne S Icelandic Silver Titanium Edition
2006 Cayman S Seal Gray over Black
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Darryl,
Thanks for pointing out the problem with the gauge. I have the same problem, the needle can drift to the upper area, short of the red area, at unpredictable times, when I know the coolant isn't very hot (based on experience from the past). I need to get this fixed. I also found that tapping the gauge can cause the needle to drop back down, sometimes where is should be, sometimes just a bit. The symptoms in my case sure sound like the cause is that "variable spring loaded resistor".
Roland
Roland
'93 Coupe Tip Silver on Grey, '02 911 C4S, '89 Vanagon Syncro -- (RIP: 944, 911SC, 931, MGB, VW Bug, GTO, Sprite.)
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I may be wrong about the nomenclature and as an electronics professional, you'd think I'd know what they were talking about. At any rate, I too grew very tired of both "whacking my dash" and "tapping my guage". I always thought there was something loose until North Hollywood pointed out the issue. Good luck!
- Darryl
1992 Slate Gray Coupe over Carrera Gray Full Leather interior....1 of 1
2006 Cayenne S Icelandic Silver Titanium Edition
2006 Cayman S Seal Gray over Black
(This post was last modified: 11-29-2010, 10:38 AM by
Darryl.)
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Seems like an unpredictable/unreliable temp gauge is the rule rather than the exception with the 968. My gauge would read just below red, and fluctuate slightly if I tapped on the cluster. I verified with a laser thermometer that the actual water temp fell within the requirements stated by Flash. My beef is that there are two gauges that I really need to be able to rely on-- the oil pressure gauge and the temp gauge, so even though I was pretty sure the coolant temp was OK, the gauge said it was right at 212 degrees all the time. Therefore I spent too much time looking at the faulty gauge (maybe wondering if it would magically fix itself?).
The best course of action I found was to replace the thermostat (OEM from Pelican, I drilled 6 small holes as described in other posts) along with the temp gauge-- got a used gauge from German Auto Dismantlers for about $50. I will note that there was a slight difference between the original gauge in my '94 968 and the replacement in that there was an additional transistor on the replacement gauge (I wish that I had taken a picture of the two before installing), and now it fluctuates slightly, but generally stays between 8:30 and 9:00. The added bonus is that you can clearly tell when the thermostat opens after about 10 mins of driving and the temp levels off. Before I had no idea what was going on.
030: Sport Group
220: Locking Differential
241: Shorter Shifting Travel
331: AM/FM Cassette!
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Okay, I'd love to believe this is my problem too! I'm experiencing very similar behavior but for me, instead of tapping the guage, I turn the heater on and the temp drops back down to the 8:30 position. Turn the heater off and back to 10:00. Turning the AC on has little effect. Seems at freeway speeds, it will stay around the 9:00 to 9:30 position. It never goes into the red (thankfully!) but it's hard to relax when the temp guage is all over the place...
I'm going to get a laser thermometer and check the temp values at different times and places. I've change the temp sensor for the fans and they seem to work fine but that was in the garage and the temp guage never went over 9:30... I like other remember the car never running past 8:30...
92 968 Cab blk/blk 6 spd
96 VFR blk
97 Dodge 1500 4x4 blk
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Yes, actually we did it at your place too. I have checked it once since then and got a steady stream out. I surely can check it again.
92 968 Cab blk/blk 6 spd
96 VFR blk
97 Dodge 1500 4x4 blk
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Rick,
You're problem does not sound like the typical "jumping gauge"...sorry to say, it sounds like the symptoms I had just before water pump failed...
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Jay
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