Temperature Gauge "Swing" Question

[gtd65]

I've noticed twice now that the temperature gauge has swung from the lowest point to the highest point in the past week.

This has occured only after 5 minutes or so of driving and then the gauge goes back to its normal position of 1/4" below the halfway mark (where it has always been for the past two years!)

I'm just wondering if this is a symptom of something else?

I know it could be a sticking thermostat but the car did not appear to be overly hot - I'm more likely to assume it was an electrical glitch.

I might be wrong though

[Tina Lopeman]

I just went thru the same thing, it was the head gasket - my car just stopped. Had to have the head ckd it was 4 leaking valves. So we had the head repaired and put it back on but now it wont start. I think it might be something with the distributor, but not sure. It cost $540 for the repair on the head at a machine shop (this included $120 for the gasket set)

[yellow_jacket]

Check to make sure the male spade connector on the temp sending unit hasn't broken loose. Also check to make sure that wire is not grounding out.

[gtd65]

I'll have a look at the connections tomorrow during daylight then.

It has only happened twice that I know of so I don't think it is anything drastic like the head gasket.

I once had a problem with an '85 Bluebird (Maxima) years ago where I thought it was a blown head gasket - the car would not run for $hit and it sounded like it was going to blow up!I was almost at the point of taking it to a garage when I decided that I was going to cure it or kill it!

It turned out that it was possibly fuel contamination that was the problem.

I've never heard a car run so rough/hot/loudly in my life that had nothing wrong with it mechanically before (or since!).