weird temperature problem

[jt1583]

my gauge cluster water temp is dead in the middle maybe 3 minutes after driving it. MY autometere electric water temp will not move until 10 minutes of driving then read ~130* all the time unless i come to a stop and it may go to 150*, or if i turn car off and come back 20 minutes later itll be around 180*.

I know people say to not trust the stock gauge, but I dont see how after 10 minutes my autometer can still not be reading over 100*. Ive got both water temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge wired with ignition and ground from radio. You guys have any ideas as if this could be a gauge issue or cooling issue? Sunday when I get time ill take gauge and sender out and stick in pot of water with real thermometer and check that its close. I guess this is better than overheating, but still isnt lower temps bad for fuel economy blah blah?

[projectRDM]

Where is this 'ground'? There is no ground in the OE harness for the radio, it grounds through the antenna.

Ground it directly to the chassis.

[Rezlo]

Not only the grounding but also remember there is a pretty good chance you have the sender of the autometer hooked to the outlet of the motor,

Stock gauge reads inlet/lower block temps before it really heats up, I have a digital fan controler hooked to the outlet of my engine and I see a 20-30 degree difference (higher on the outlet obviously) in tempratures and yes it is delayed because of the thermostat waiting to open when you first start it up

When you shut your car off the water pump is not turning and all the heat from the motor natualy goes up, I see about 50 degrees hotter than inlet at most though after about 8-10 minutes of being shut down.

For those with digital gauges where do you run on outlet temps? I have my fans coming on at 200F in the city and 210F on the highway, I normaly sit right round 190 on a cool day and 205-210 on a warm day and about 215 when I REALY beat on it.

[jt1583]

its hooked up on the upper radiator hose. i will try the ground idea

[Rezlo]

Those temps are normal and acts normal on the outlet side, dont worry your just fine,,