Pegged Temp Gauge

[LifeIsGood]

A few months back I was on my way home from the Pacific Coast Highway trip. I looked down and the temp gauge was pegged. I quickly got off at the current exit and took a look. Nothing was overheating and nothing was unusual under the hood. To make a longish story short...nothing seems to be wrong heat wise with my viper. I've taken it for numerous drives and miles since it pegged, no problems. My local tech thinks there might be a ground issue somewhere. Every time I turn on the key, the temp gauge goes to 250+ and stays there.
I haven't looked at anything under the hood yet. I remember reading about this issue years ago, but I can't find any threads about it on the viper sites I frequent. I was hoping someone here may have had the same issue in the past and could point me in the exact direction.

2001 RT/10

[Lalmeida617]

I think this is what you are looking for.


https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/15158-Fluctuating-temperature?highlight=Temp+sending+unit

[Fatboy 18]

Probably Rust on those internal parts of the gauge formed from Colorado winters to Sunny Arazona:D

[dave6666]

Try a sending unit. Get the SMP from Rock Auto. SMP makes the OEM sensors. Easy to change and virtually no loss of coolant when changing it.

[uvbnbit]

coolant temp sensor. Get the OEM sensor. I didn't realize how many engine functions could be affected by coolant temp. Cheap sensors relay cheap data.

[LifeIsGood]

Temperature Sending Unit ordered. I'll provide an update once I get it replaced.


Try a sending unit. Get the SMP from Rock Auto. SMP makes the OEM sensors. Easy to change and virtually no loss of coolant when changing it.


If you suspect the sending unit just put a new one in. They are cheap. Either get OEM or a Standard Automotive Products brand. Do it engine cold and you don't even have to top off the coolant when done. Just unscrew it and put the new one in. Very simple swap.

Okay Dave...VIRTUALLY no coolant loss or NO coolant loss. The manual wants me to do a partial drain. That's also a bit ambiguous. I don't want to drain anything if I don't have to. Would jacking up just the driver side help?

[capevettes]

Try a sending unit. Get the SMP from Rock Auto. SMP makes the OEM sensors. Easy to change and virtually no loss of coolant when changing it.

Agree. I had the same issue with my 2001 GTS. I got the unit from Rock Auto. Factory piece. That was the fix. Easy to change. Lost no coolant.

[dave6666]

You're overthinking it. Change the damn sensor.

[99RT10]

^^^^Dave FTW^^^^

[LifeIsGood]

You're overthinking it. Change the damn sensor.

Okay bitch! If coolant leaks all over my shit I'll be making a trip down to Tejas. :t0135:

[dave6666]

Attaboy. You can Zaino the side of the engine block after you're done.

[Martyb]

It won’t leak, I just did mine last year as well, no loss of coolant. Simple job!

I can come over and supervise over a beer:)

[LifeIsGood]

Oh hell, it's time to restock the fridge. ;)

[plumcrazy]

def the sending unit, at leas thats what mine did

[dave6666]

def the sending unit, at leas thats what mine did

Will I lose any fluid if I change it? Please be specific, like any fluid, or any fluid, or aNy fluid.

[LifeIsGood]

or ANY fluid!

[LifeIsGood]

Replaced the Temperature Sending Unit yesterday. Took her out for a drive today and the dash temperature gauge was working just fine again. Thanks everybody!

OE removed:

41770

OE and New parts:

41771

New installed:

41772

Replacement complete:

41773

There was a quarter sized lake of coolant under the viper so next time I'm in bumfuck Texas, Dave owes me a beer.

[Ramtuff]

So the beer your owed, will you get that one before or after you buy the six you owe him for shaming you into changing the sensor?

[plumcrazy]

youre welcome

[dave6666]

Bitch you need to Zaino your wiring harnesses. I'll get busy finding your beer.

41777

[drewsss]

Ken - am late to the party here, but that was the problem and glad that you fixed it...lol.

The same thing happened to me on the way back from No Fly Zone in Gila Bend Airport with my Gen II, a few years ago. Temp gauge pegged and never came down. Eddie met me all the way out there to tow me, just in case. We decided (i.e., took a chance) that it was the gauge and I drove it home without issues. My problem was that, with the Paxton installed, I couldn't access the sensor easily and had to fabricate a special tool to be able to access it without having to remove the whole SC set up. Thanks to another member (Jim S) whom welded and modified a socket just for this purpose, we solved the problem. I cursed that I'd never have a SC set up again after that nightmare.

Glad that it all worked out. And Dave6666 - our Arizona girls look better than that. But I'll take a beer anyway.