Hey guys, I've been trying to pass emissions for the past week, tommorow will be my 4th time through there. I've done one quart of STP fuel cleaner in a full tank. and all the general maintenance (spark plugs, plug wires, rotor, dist. cap, oil, oil filter, air filter)

Well when I got the car a week ago, the temperature gauge is always stuck above redline, whether the car is on or off, key in or not. Does this mean that the temperature sensor is telling the car that it's always over heating and so the car is always running very cold? Would this make me run extremely rich as well?

I am replacing the O2 sensor tommorow morning hoping that it helps. But if this cooling thing is hurting me I'll need to get it fixed. I'm only getting like 12 - 14MPG right now, and the car wreaks of gas, but none is to be found around the air filter.

 

I believe the gauge and ECM use different senders.

 

okay. Is there any way that I can check if the (EDIT) connection to the ECM from Temperature Sensor is working. W/O a scanning tool or laptop?

 

You can check the sensor for the ecm by probing the proper wire at the ecm. That will tell you what the voltage is at the ecm. It should be between .5 and 4.5v. If you have a tpi or tbi it will be a yellow wire in position c10.

As far is the gauge is concerned you probably a shorted wire somewhere. It could also be a faulty gauge.