[mnaleid]

A couple years ago, I noticed that the temperature reading on the second tier screen started displaying the temperature with semi-transparent, or translucent bars. I took it in, and they said it was a broken thermostat. I got it fixed and it recently started happening again. This time, I replaced the thermostat myself, however, the faulty reading still exists.

Obviously, the issue is not with the thermostat. Another issue I've seen in my research could be that the ECT sensor could be faulty. I've seen issues with a switch where people try the paperclip trick to see if there's a switch issue (Cannot for the life of me find it). It could also be that the thermostat cluster (is that the right wording?) has a loose wire, or it's just starting to die on me.

When I turned on the heat, it seemed to correct the reading, but I just drove it around today, and the reading went back down to normal without turning the heat on.

What might the issue be?

When the temperature reading corrects itself:

The issue I am periodically seeing with the translucent bars:

 

[FD7683]

if it's driving that hot, I would inspect the engine block behind the catalytic convertor and check for a coolant leak. Have you been losing coolant lately? You should hope it's just a bad display.

 

[mnaleid]

if it's driving that hot, I would inspect the engine block (behind the catalytic convertor) and check for a coolant leak. Have you been losing coolant lately? You should hope it's just a bad display.

No coolant underneath. I might see this temperature immediately after starting from a cold start. I really don't think the engine is getting that hot.

 

[tombid]

Probably the display then, try (if you have it) a scan/program tool like foxwell elite and check the actual temp reading rather than the segmented display. If you dont have that, a thermometer to the side of the block should tell you a decently accurate temp, especially in the ballpark to prove right or wrong your display.

 

[mnaleid]

Probably the display then, try (if you have it) a scan/program tool like foxwell elite and check the actual temp reading rather than the segmented display. If you dont have that, a thermometer to the side of the block should tell you a decently accurate temp, especially in the ballpark to prove right or wrong your display.

Thanks, I will give it a try

 

[halfSpinDoctor]

My display started doing the same thing, but on the other side (fuel quantity) not the temperature side. Here is something to try: Can you push on the plastic on the display, or around the bottom? If the segments flicker or turn off when you push on them, then it is the display going bad. The 8th gen is the first to use lead-free solder, and after 10-15 years the solder joints in the gauges start to fail from vibration. There is a YouTube video of someone re-soldering them to repair it, but I am just going to live with it for now.

You can check actual coolant temp with a cheap OBD II Bluetooth dongle off of Amazon (Android-only, usually).

 

[mnaleid]

I ended up buying a replacement part. That appears to have fixed it. Still want to take a longer drive to make sure everything is still looking good

 

[tombid]

My display started doing the same thing, but on the other side (fuel quantity) not the temperature side. Here is something to try: Can you push on the plastic on the display, or around the bottom? If the segments flicker or turn off when you push on them, then it is the display going bad. The 8th gen is the first to use lead-free solder, and after 10-15 years the solder joints in the gauges start to fail from vibration. There is a YouTube video of someone re-soldering them to repair it, but I am just going to live with it for now.

You can check actual coolant temp with a cheap OBD II Bluetooth dongle off of Amazon (Android-only, usually).

Huh the more you know, I knew about the display issue, one of my friends has the fuel gauge inverted on his lx, just never saw it on the temp side. And I did not know a regular obd2 scanner could get that info, I thought you needed a programmable one to access sensors and stuff