Temp Gauge

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
Hi! everyone I have just purchased my first liberty a 06 KJ and my temp gauge doesn't raise past the hundred degree mark. I have a inferred gauge and it's reaching 196-211 degrees and the fan is kicking on perfectly. Now my question is could it just be a faulty gauge? I don't think it's the temp sensor because the fan is working perfectly.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
 

LibertyTC

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
9,081
Reaction score
1,747
Location
B.C. Canada
Welcome to the forum.
Plug in an OBD2 reader and see what is being reported.
You must be registered for see images attach

^ Fahrenheit Water temp reporting 219.
The dash temp gauge should be in the middle when warmed up.
 

GitEmSteveDave

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2018
Messages
391
Reaction score
112
Location
Howell
Here is an album of pictures of what the temp gauge on my dash(03 Renegade 3.7) shows and what my actual temperature is. It's missing the 190F picture, but you can get the point without it: https://imgur.com/a/TCgWHkY

Basically the needle doesn't start to move until ~110F and settles in the center at ~170F till at least 220F
 

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio
Gauge on the dash panel is only a " suggestion" most ride about 1/2 way all the time but have seen some only go up 1/4 of the way., but be working fine.
This is why they call them idiot gauges
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
Here is an album of pictures of what the temp gauge on my dash(03 Renegade 3.7) shows and what my actual temperature is. It's missing the 190F picture, but you can get the point without it: https://imgur.com/a/TCgWHkY

Basically the needle doesn't start to move until ~110F and settles in the center at ~170F till at least 220F
Wow thats great! According to the pics my KJs gauge doesn't go past the 140 mark. I put my obd2 on it to get a temp reading but my cheap scanner doesn't read coolant temp data
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
Gauge on the dash panel is only a " suggestion" most ride about 1/2 way all the time but have seen some only go up 1/4 of the way., but be working fine.
This is why they call them idiot gauges
Yep idiot gauges . mine stays at a quarter way.
 

GitEmSteveDave

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2018
Messages
391
Reaction score
112
Location
Howell
Gauge on the dash panel is only a " suggestion" most ride about 1/2 way all the time but have seen some only go up 1/4 of the way., but be working fine.
This is why they call them idiot gauges

I had a "true" gauge on my Dodge, which is part of the reason I invested in the bluetooth OBDII reader, so I could get real time coolant temps.

Please correct me if I am wrong, or misguided, but isn't riding low mean that your thermo may be stuck open and not just opening at the temp it's supposed to? I swore I saw someone post either here or on facebook about their gauge never rising all the way and the majority opinion was it was a bad thermostat.
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
I had a "true" gauge on my Dodge, which is part of the reason I invested in the bluetooth OBDII reader, so I could get real time coolant temps.

Please correct me if I am wrong, or misguided, but isn't riding low mean that your thermo may be stuck open and not just opening at the temp it's supposed to? I swore I saw someone post either here or on facebook about their gauge never rising all the way and the majority opinion was it was a bad thermostat.
I also read about the thermostat being open but I just changed it with the housing. So I'm gonna see if my friends obd2 reads coolant temp before I go any further
 

lfhoward

Well-Known Member
KJ Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
2,244
Reaction score
2,425
Location
Philadelphia, PA
I’ve had the temp stay too low long enough to throw an engine code. In my case the fan clutch was stuck on and I was descending a long steep grade in low gear at high RPM’s (pulling a trailer).
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
Ok so I finally checked the live data dream with a scanner and the coolant temp is reading 208-219 degrees and the radiator fan kicks on at 219 degrees and shuts off at 210. So everything seems to be communicating just fine. My question is do you guys think could it be just the gauges? Because yesterday I also noticed my fuel gauge isnt measuring right either.
Thank you
 

LibertyTC

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
9,081
Reaction score
1,747
Location
B.C. Canada
Calibration / stepper motor may be out to lunch.
I'd install a new temp gauge.
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
Calibration / stepper motor may be out to lunch.
I'd install a new temp gauge.
I figured but I wanted to get the opinions of you guys first before I go any further.
I was wondering what controls the signal for the gauges? The Pcm or Bcm? Just so I can know for the future.
 

LibertyTC

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
9,081
Reaction score
1,747
Location
B.C. Canada
From FSM: This gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the PCM,
Over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.
The engine coolant temperature gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output
(run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On or Start positions.
The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition switch is turned to the Off position.
The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position.
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the engine coolant temperature gauge needle will be swept to several gauge calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the engine coolant temperature sensor to determine the engine operating temperature. The PCM then sends the proper engine coolant temperature messages to the instrument cluster.
For further diagnosis of the engine coolant temperature gauge or the instrument cluster
circuitry that controls the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
From FSM: This gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the PCM,
Over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.
The engine coolant temperature gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit board through the fused ignition switch output
(run-start) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the On or Start positions.
The cluster is programmed to move the gauge needle back to the low end of the scale after the ignition switch is turned to the Off position.
The instrument cluster circuitry controls the gauge needle position.
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the engine coolant temperature gauge needle will be swept to several gauge calibration points on the gauge scale in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the engine coolant temperature sensor to determine the engine operating temperature. The PCM then sends the proper engine coolant temperature messages to the instrument cluster.
For further diagnosis of the engine coolant temperature gauge or the instrument cluster
circuitry that controls the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)

Wow! Awesome thanks man! I'll keep everyone posted.
 

Paul124

New Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2020
Messages
15
Reaction score
4
UPDATE! So I got a replacement cluster and the temp gauge and fuel gauge are working now. But the RPMs on this cluster dont work. I'm getting it swapped for another.
At least I know its just the cluster now

Thanks for all the help guys!
 

Latest posts

Members online

Top