I just bought my first camaro, a 1988 with the 5.0 Fuel Injection. The car runs fine, and doesn’t seem to be running hot, but I can’t really tell because the temp gauge doesn’t seem to work. When I start the car, it rises a little but then just stops. I’m trying to figure out what it could be, but besides oil changes I draw a blank lol. There is one interesting correlation that seems connected but I’ve never heard anyone else talk about this. I have a check engine light come on, and it’s for code 32, the EGR one. However, sometimes when I’m driving and stop like at a drive thru or something, the check engine light turns off and the temp gauge changes and shows a little below 220 degrees. Should my first course of action be to change the EGR valve? Or is this just happenstance? Any help is appreciated.

 

The gauge is stand alone from everything. Look on the driver's side cylinder head between the first and second spark plug. You should find a brass sender with a green wire running to it. If the green wire is disconnected, you probably found your problem. You can test the wire and the gauge by having someone touch the green wire to any ground while the key is on (engine doesnt need to be running), watch the gauge, when the wire is grounded the gauge should show full hot. If the gauge works under test, but doesn't go up after driving llong enough for the engine to get warm, replace the sender in the head. When you remove it, antifreeze will pour out, so do it while the engine is cool, and either have a catch pan ready or have fast fingers to switch the sender before you're standing in a lake of antifreeze.

Oh, and you might want to check the antifreeze level in the radiator. No antifreeze, the sensor has nothing to read the temp from.

 

Thanks Drew! The cable was disconnected because the plug was really loose. I crimped it and put it back on, and while the temp gauge moves, it's still reading too low. I'm gonna replace the sender and see if that fixes it.

 

Hi. Coolant is really hot? Maybe you have a thermostat trouble

 

put the green wire on the ground with the ignition on. if the temperature gauge shows hot you know that both the wiring and the temperature gauge are ok