EA82Loyale Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 I recently bought a 96 outback with a bad motor, and the very first time I started it (it was cold, hadn't ran in a few months) the temp gauge instantly went right up to regular operating temperature. I thought this was odd. I ended up swapping in an EJ22 for reliability purposes, and I thought that this would possibly solve the problem, but it did not. The temp gauge still rises right up to operating temp as soon as you start it. My only logical thought is that this is the actual gauge cluster? Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Could be a problem with the temp gauge sender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EA82Loyale Posted February 21, 2010 Author Share Posted February 21, 2010 Only if the temp gauge sender is not on the motor. I swapped in an EJ22 that came out of my Brighton, and the gauge was working fine before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 sound like the gauge would be a good guess. unless a previous seller tampered with it or the wiring to hide an over heating engine condition. not likely but check the wiring maybe. i don't even know if it is possible to to tamper with it. did you run the previous engine enough to see the gauge go to hot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EA82Loyale Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Yea I did. Lol. Let's just say the EJ25 motor was making rod knock noises, and I was more concerned about not towing the automatic than I was saving that motor. So it got really hot and started smoking like crazy. It looked like a jet was taking off from the highway, it was so bad my friend following me had to pull over and let the smoke clear. It was also spewing coolant out of the overflow tank, and the gauge said it was at normal operating temp. So I know for sure that the gauge was incorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 So I know for sure that the gauge was incorrect. so swap it out. it could maybe be in the wiring, but not the wiring on the engine. so unless you see something obvious swap the gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 It would be pretty shady, but perhaps someone wired in a resistor to fake a signal ot the gauge. I'd say swap the cluster, and if you see any funny wiring in there look to see if it goes to a resistor. I'm guessing a 300-500 ohm to make the gauge sit right at the middle. man that would be shady. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 (edited) You're right Gloyale...that would be very shady. Try disconnecting the sensor and see if the gauge moves. I think the gauge should show cold when you do that. Shorting the lead to ground should make the gauge show hot. If the gauge doesn't move doing those things then the sensor wire would appear to not be connected to the gauge and the gauge is tied to a different path. Edited February 25, 2010 by Cougar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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