Temp gauge not working

[joesabr]

I have a 2002 Nissan sentra SE R Spec V and my temp gauge is not working at all, I have no clue what could be causing it. It's not the cluster because I got a new one, and still didn't do any thing. Any suggestions?
Modified by joesabr at 7:13 PM 5/31/2009

[ProudNissanFreak]

Your temperature sensor has gone bad.
Modified by ProudNissanFreak at 7:16 PM 5/31/2009

[joesabr]

Where is the sensor located?

[ProudNissanFreak]

Best way to find it is:

a) Looks it up in a Hayne's Repair Guideb) Get into the gauge cluster, pull out the temperature gauge, trace the wires attached to the sensor.

The sensor will be screwed into the necessary equipment, so be sure you have the tools to get it out.

[nametakennow]

Water temp sensor or combination meter malfunction. You can check it with the procedure on EL-94 in the FSM - this isn't the SE-R FSM, but it should be the same procedure - http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Se...l.pdf

If the test shows up like in the picture and the gauges sweep smoothly and easily, your combo meter is bad. If your temp gauge doesn't act right in the test, the temp sensor is bad. Probably the sensor itself. Fairly common failure.

Grab your FSM here - http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Sentra/ - for replacement instructions.

[RED_DET]

Take your car to nissan. You will more than likely need a new ECU. This happened on my wife's car and I changed everything that could possibly affect the gauge and nothing worked. I even switched out clusters. Nissan has to cover the ECU under 8yr/80k mile warranty.