Engine temp question

[tmac4t4]

it seems to me my temp guage is a little high once the car warms up.
i dont know for sure,because this is my first mx3, however my old mx6 didnt run this warm, i dont think.
where should the gauge be when the car is at normal operating temperature? anyone have a pic?
typically it should be 50/50 right in between cold and hot,,mine seems to be leanin tworards the warm side,,i removed the weather stripping along the rear of the hood and i drive with my hood released, but latched..now it stays cool, like it should..just looks pretty funny cruisin wit my hood popped

[Daninski]

Don't drive with your hood popped. Could be someone put in a hotter temp gauge or your Rad needs flushing. My Mx3's run with the temp neddle at about 7-8 o'clock. Never past 9? If your hood popped fixes things it sounds like a rad issue.
EDIT is your fan coming on? Confirm that and if it isn't it could be your temp sensor or you heed to set your TPS maybe

[tmac4t4]

when i baught the car,,the moron, i mean previous owner, had a completley clogged k&n filter on it..i mean, i could hold it up to the sunlight and see absolutley no daylight..so right away i replaced it,,i then retrieved codes and it gave me a code to do with the iat sensor? could it be that resistor or w/e operates that sensor is just toast?
the rad seems to be in good working order with clean fluid

oh and yes, i messed with the tps a lil a while back,,but the temp guage never chaged

[Daninski]

With that filter being plugged you've raised a good point. I read where you can remove the plug from the VAF and in it you'll see a little resistor of sorts. If it's dirty take contact cleaner and "carefully" spray it till it's clean. Don't hold it right up and blast away, keep the plastic straw at a distance. Then reinstall the plug. Don't use any cleaner with a lubricant. Usually a voltage pulse is used to clean the resistor but it can only do so much. Cheers

[tmac4t4]

you mean remove the actual plug not just disconect the wires and spray the contacts, right?
i have the cone type air flow sensor, ive had it out and it doesnt appear it can be disassembled thers gotta be a way, its just plastic

[tmac4t4]

nobody knows
could that sensor actually make my temp guage rise?

[Daninski]

I was commenting on this, quote; when i baught the car,,the moron, i mean previous owner, had a completley clogged k&n filter on it..i mean, i could hold it up to the sunlight and see absolutley no daylight..so right away i replaced it,,i then retrieved codes and it gave me a code to do with the iat sensor? could it be that resistor or w/e operates that sensor is just toast? unquote. This was to help you with an IAT issue.

[msd-supermx3]

well to be honest it won't really matter where the temp guage is as long as its not 3mm away friom the HOT zone. Mine runs a bit pass the middle. and remember its a hot running motor so it should be hot. So I think your ok as long as its close to the maddle and a litlle passed is ok as well!!!

[tmac4t4]

thanks! it has always ran a bit warm so i guess as long as its not OVER heating then i wont worry to much about it

[tmac4t4]

wierdest thing happend today, i got in my car, made it down the road when i realized my temp guage hadnt moved,,the needle was still resting on the on that little pin,,so once i hit the first stop sign i turned off the car, re-started it and the needle started to work again
i was also lucky enough to discover im leaking gas, AFTER i filled up but i blame THAT on the egr

[FlyVFR]

At some point after driving hard the electric rad cooling fans should turn on.

[maryus]

you know what is more weird ? try this : after running at normal temp , turn off the engine , then switch immediately to pre-ignition , and watch the temp gauge , it will sit in the middle ! even though you should have the same temp in the engine right ?

So i am guessing there is an error in the system , or yeah the radiator is not that good .. If i drive slow my radiator comes on very often , like each 4-5 minutes or 10 ..


and my temp gauge shows same thing , the needle is a little bit up from the middle . was the same with KF , and i think was the same with K8 ... so i think is ECU + Radiator related + thermostat + water pump + timing ?

but just explain someone to me how its possible what i just said in my first rows please.

[FlyVFR]

Maryus,
The temperature sensor reads the actual temperature of the engine. Try it after about 2 hours of engine off and you will see that the temperature will drop to almost cold reading on the gauge.

[maryus]

no no no , you dont get me ... in one second the engine does not get colder , but hotter.

So when you turn off the engine , take the reading in the same time ! dont wait not even two seconds.

I am trying to say that these readings are weird.


,M

[FlyVFR]

no no no , you dont get me ... in one second the engine does not get colder , but hotter.

So when you turn off the engine , take the reading in the same time ! dont wait not even two seconds.

I am trying to say that these readings are weird.


,M

Ah..yes the engine must be running for correct readings.