coolant leak + wacky temp gauge = WTF?

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Ok so I have a very small coolant leak, it drips a little but nothing serious. I have narrowed it down to either my lower rad hose having a pin hole in it or I have a bad gasket on either the bottom portion of the thermostat housing or at the water pump, either way it's not serious, car doesn't over heat, just have to refill my coolant levels once ever 2 weeks. But the last 3 times I've gone out to go to work and then to drive home and on Sat when I went out to get MC3 and Mercenaries the temp gauge has been acting really effing weird. if the engine is cool it bounces all over the place for a minute then stops then bounces then stop andthis is while the engine is cold, just started haven't gone anywhere in a few hours or a day cold. Then once the engine warms up and the temp reaches normal driving temp (around halfway on the temp gauge) it stops and doesn't do it again. What the hell is going on here, could my leak be coming from the temp gauge sender, is it going bad on me if so would that even cause a leak. All I know is that the leak runs downt he lower rad hose and drips just before it gets to the radiator, but I know its not the radiator because it starts around the oil pan area and runs down the hose. I don't have a set of ramps or jackstands so I can't get under there safely to see what the problem is. This is on a 1995 240sx with auto trans

So to refresh...Why is my temp gauge wacky at start up and normal and normal driving temps?

What possible places other than than the hose could I have a small leak around my oilpan?

Can you have a leak at the temp gauge sensor? If so does this mean its bad or just lose? And will this cause it to be wacky when the engine is cold.

[DammitBobby]

Chances are you either have a bad connection on your temp sensor or bad sensor. Unplug the sensor and clean the connector. See what happens. My guess on the leak is a bad water pump.

[240sx2nr]

when was the last time hoses were replaced? should replace them.... the leak around the oil pan could be a water pump failure... and does it drip a little after you have driven it with the car not running, or when it is at an idle?

[Sabot]

I have that problem it drips a little with the engine not running I guess is the water pump, but is it gasket problem or the actual water pump is bad?

[amolao]

You need to identify where the leak is coming from....the reason your gauge is acting funny is due to an air pocket..maybe you have lost enough coolant creating an air pocket....keep adding coolant, fix leak, refill system while allowing air to escape trhu breather valve.....

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Yes it does continue to drip after I shut the engine off, as far as the gauge goes the needle shoots all the way up to hot as soon as you start the engine and just stays there so now I have no idea what my temp is, although even though I have the leak Its never overheated on me, the gauge goes to the middle and just stays there no matter how hard I drove the car. As far as the water pump goes, how will I know if it's the pump or just the gasket? I don't want to have to go buy a brand new pump if it's not needed. I just bought the car back in March so i have no idea what has repaired or replaced, guess Ill just replace the pump to be safe. Honestly, I just need a whole new engine block, this one has over 230K on it, but I got it for 1400 dollars, its a 95 and the body and interior are perfect minus a small ding in the front driver side quarterpanel. anyone in the PA/DE want to get rid of their KA and Manual trans for dirt cheap let me know.