temp gauge question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

lhracer05 · 11-07-2003, 01:22 AM

Hey guys, I just recently became a new owner of a 1990 s13 coupe and I just wanted to know, is the needle of the temperature gauge supposed to move to the middle when the engine is started because mine doesn't budge, or does the needle start movin after the car has actually been run? Thanks and sorry for such a newbie question.

s13silady · 11-07-2003, 03:53 AM

it should start to move as the engine is getting warmer... or at least thats what i thought...

F3600 · 11-07-2003, 08:56 AM

it raise when the car is hot.. should be in the middle of the gauge
but .. if you want to be sure you need to test the resistance of the sensor...

aznpoopy · 11-07-2003, 11:44 AM

when off the needle should be all the way down. from a COLD start, i.e. leaving it off all night long and coming out in the morning - after start it should jump up a bit. as the car warms up it should gradually move towards the middle but not past the middle.

say you drove around for an hour. the temp gauge needle should be in the middle. when you shut off the car it will drop down to its resting position. if you start the car again right away it will jump right back to the middle.

bottom line, when the car is *on*, it measures the temperature of the engine. lol. edit: moving past the middle and higher = bad. that means car = overheat. overheat = destroy car. so if ur sensor isn't working, get it working or find someone who can. it's important.

lhracer05 · 11-07-2003, 05:39 PM

Thanks a lot you guys. All your advice was much of help.

ryan hagen · 11-09-2003, 09:18 PM

mine doenst move at all so i got a auto meter gauge, not sure if its the sensor or the gauge cluster.

11-07-2003, 01:22 AM	#1
lhracer05 I LIVE to revive dead threads. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SF Bay Area, Japan Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	temp gauge question Hey guys, I just recently became a new owner of a 1990 s13 coupe and I just wanted to know, is the needle of the temperature gauge supposed to move to the middle when the engine is started because mine doesn't budge, or does the needle start movin after the car has actually been run? Thanks and sorry for such a newbie question.

11-07-2003, 03:53 AM	#2
s13silady Nissanaholic! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bay Area, San Jose Posts: 1,804 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	it should start to move as the engine is getting warmer... or at least thats what i thought... __________________

11-09-2003, 09:18 PM	#6
ryan hagen Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: rhinelander wisconsin Age: 42 Posts: 1,465 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	mine doenst move at all so i got a auto meter gauge, not sure if its the sensor or the gauge cluster. __________________ 1990 hatch ka24de gt2871r

11-07-2003, 08:56 AM	#3
F3600 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 364 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	it raise when the car is hot.. should be in the middle of the gauge but .. if you want to be sure you need to test the resistance of the sensor...

11-07-2003, 11:44 AM	#4
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	when off the needle should be all the way down. from a COLD start, i.e. leaving it off all night long and coming out in the morning - after start it should jump up a bit. as the car warms up it should gradually move towards the middle but not past the middle. say you drove around for an hour. the temp gauge needle should be in the middle. when you shut off the car it will drop down to its resting position. if you start the car again right away it will jump right back to the middle. bottom line, when the car is on, it measures the temperature of the engine. lol. edit: moving past the middle and higher = bad. that means car = overheat. overheat = destroy car. so if ur sensor isn't working, get it working or find someone who can. it's important.

11-07-2003, 05:39 PM	#5
lhracer05 I LIVE to revive dead threads. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SF Bay Area, Japan Posts: 58 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks a lot you guys. All your advice was much of help.