Temperature gauges jumping and fan not running on a 2008 Avenger
I have an O8 Avenger with the temperature gauges unadjusted. The engine is overheating. Gauges jump up and down even when the radiator has fluid. I pulled over and saw the engine overheated and the fan wasn't running. Any ideas?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Of course, the fans have to work correctly. They might not work for lots of reasons. First thing is to put in a new thermostat. Because, if you’ve got a stick in thermostat, the engine can get hot, but then the temperature sensor might not get hot and it won’t turn the fans on. So try the simple things like that first. But, if you put a new thermostat that is full of coolant, the fans will still not work right. Then you would have to get fan cooling system all checked out. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to get in touch with a technician and have them run some scans. They can figure out what is going on electronically.
Change the thermostat first, because a lot of times, it’s just a stuck-in thermostat that is cheap and easy repair. If you want to have the overheating problem properly diagnosed by a certified mechanic, a technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to check your vehicle and make any needed repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Dodge Avenger radiator fan isn`t working are the fan assembly, the fan clutch, or the coolant temperature sensor. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
The most common reasons a Dodge Charger is overheating are a coolant leak (water pump, radiator, hose etc.), the radiator fan, or a failed thermostat.
It gets even more concerning and confusing when car overheating suddenly returns to normal. This phenomenon can happen for many reasons, like a bad thermostat, a faulty radiator, or a coolant leak. As such, it`s best to get your car checked by a professional— like RepairSmith!
There are several things that can cause overheating, ranging from obstruction of debris in the coolant system or heater core, a failed water pump, thermostat, radiator fan or simply old coolant that is not properly mixed.
An unlikely, but possible, cause is a bad thermostat. Try turning the Fan switch to the “On” position to see if the blower comes on.
If the sensor and the fuse are working correctly, but the fan doesn`t turn on even when the car is overheating, it might be a wiring issue. Inspect the wiring going to the radiator`s control unit or the relay. Check connector plug health and see if they are corroded at the relay and the control unit.
That said, a severely overheating engine can cause the cylinder walls or the pistons themselves to warp, bend and deform. This will cause the perfect seal between the piston and the rest of the engine to lose integrity. Oil could be forced past the piston rings and into the engine, where it will burn the oil.
Faulty Thermostat
Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the valve will open and coolant will begin to flow through the engine. A faulty thermostat might remain closed even when the engine is hot, which can quickly lead to overheating.
An overheating engine won`t resolve on its own, even if it seems to be fixed after you add a little coolant. It will only get worse if left unaddressed.
Faulty Thermostat
If the thermostat is damaged, it can cause the engine to overheat while idling. This is because the coolant is not flowing properly and cannot dissipate the heat properly.
Here are some other circumstances that can cause a vehicle to overheat: Late timing: If your ignition system is malfunctioning, late timing may be causing your vehicle to overheat because the spark plugs are firing the fuel/air mixture after the piston moves back down from the top of its stroke.
Reasons a Dodge Avenger AC Isn`t Working. The most common reasons a Dodge Avenger ac isn`t working are a refrigerant leak, an electrical climate control issue, or a problem with the air conditioning compressor. You may not realize there`s a refrigerant leak until the air conditioner stops blowing cold.
Reasons a Dodge Avenger AC Isn`t Working. The most common reasons a Dodge Avenger ac isn`t working are a refrigerant leak, an electrical climate control issue, or a problem with the air conditioning compressor. You may not realize there`s a refrigerant leak until the air conditioner stops blowing cold.
What happens if the cooling fan stops working? If your cooling fan stops working, your engine could overheat. This could cause damage to your engine parts. It`s a serious issue and needs to be looked at by a garage.
Here are some of the most common symptoms: Your check engine light may come on. There may be steam coming from the hood. The car simply won`t keep driving anymore once it gets too hot.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Temperature gauges jumping and fan not running on a 2008 Avenger
ANSWER : Of course, the fans have to work correctly. They might not work for lots of reasons. First thing is to put in a new thermostat. Because, if you’ve got a stick in thermostat, the engine can get hot, but then the temperature sensor might not get hot and it won’t turn the fans on. So try the simple things like that first. But, if you put a new thermostat that is full of coolant, the fans will still not work right. Then you would have to get fan cooling system all checked out. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to get in touch with a technician and have them run some scans. They can figure out what is going on electronically.
Change the thermostat first, because a lot of times, it’s just a stuck-in thermostat that is cheap and easy repair. If you want to have the overheating problem properly diagnosed by a certified mechanic, a technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to check your vehicle and make any needed repairs.
My fans stay on when I turn my car on and my temperature gauge stays on cool and will not move up even when the car is running
ANSWER : Hey there. This can be caused by a number of things such as low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a failing coolant fan switch.
As you may know, the coolant fan switch helps to maintain the proper coolant temperature by turning on and off at specific temperature thresholds. When this switch is not working properly, this can cause the fans to come on intermittently, all the time or sometimes not at all.
In your case, if they are on continuously, this may not allow the car to reach normal operating temperature as you have noticed. When this happens, you will notice a temperature spike and drop occasionally as the fan comes on and off. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your cooling system and pinpoint any needed repairs.
I have a problem with the temperature gauge – 2002 Buick Rendezvous
ANSWER : Hello. The temperature gauge is going to elevate based on the resistance of the sensor. The first thing to check is the temperature sending unit. The wires or the sensor itself may be corroded or damaged. This would cause extra resistance in the system and cause the gauge to be off.
You can test the readings coming from the temperature sensor. You will want to test for resistance and match it to the correlated temperature. You can find these specifications based on make and model. This would inform you of what the gauge thinks the temperature is versus what the scanner is reading. If they are off, then you know the sensor is bad and you should replace it. The sensor will signal the computer as to when the fans should be turning on. If the fans are not turning on soon enough, this would be the cause.
I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine if the gauge is faulty and replace the temperature sending unit if necessary.
Temperature gauge does not work – 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis
ANSWER : You will need to test the computer to scan for data of the temperature sensor to see if the computer is reading the correct temperature as tested externally on the coolant sensor. If the sensor is not accurate then replace the sender. If the sender is accurate then you will need to have the temperature gauge replaced.
Gas gauge isn’t working. Sometimes the speedometer and the temperature gauge doesn’t work. Limited lights around gauges and radio.
ANSWER : Hi there. The dashboard lights are burned out in the dash and the dimmer switch could be worn causing the lights to be weak. The gauges that seldom fail to work is most likely a loose wire in the dash panel. The fuel gauge that is not going to E when shutting off the car has a damaged rheostat within the sending unit. The sending unit is in the fuel tank attached to the fuel pump. If you need further assistance with your gauges not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
My car runs hot but it never overtheats the temperature gauge moves up and down
ANSWER : This is could be a classic symptom of a cooling fan not operating. When your car is moving, air is passing over through the radiator allowing it to dissipate heat. When you car is at a stop, there isn’t any air flow passing through the radiator while stopped. That is where the cooling fan comes in. The symptom you describe with the temperature gauge could indicate other problems though.
If the temperature gauge is fluctuating while driving, this indicates there is a low coolant condition or the thermostat has problems. On a car with 125,000 miles, I would definitely suggest a new thermostat. But before you put one in, you should take a look at a few things first.
Check the coolant level cold. If the coolant is low, you need to find the source of the coolant leak. The 3.8l has a few common coolant leak failures.
Water pump
Upper intake plenum will leak into the cylinders.
And the drive belt tensioner.
Water pump bypass elbow.
The drive belt tensioner has coolant passages in it that feed the heater core. The pipes that come out of the tensioner are sealed with rubber o-rings.
The water pump bypass pipe is usually plastic. There are after market elbows that are metal.
Of course there are the usual suspects such as hoses and the radiator, but you will need to pressurize the system to find the source of the leak.
If you need some help with pinpointing the issue, consider enlisting a certified who can find find the coolant leak as necessary and diagnose the several other components I’ve mentioned above.
Good luck, and remember to change the thermostat even if you find a coolant leak.
Temperature gauge moves up and down rapidly (does’nt jump).
ANSWER : The wire yl/lb from the PCM to the coolant temperature sensor seems to have a break in it. However, when jumping the wire from the PCM to the sensor could have been in contact with another circuit causing the gauge to bounce. Try taking an alligator clip jumper wire and hooking it to the wire directly next to the PCM and right next to the sensor and then cut the yl/lb wire to break the circuit. If the gauge works fine, then the yl/lb wire needs replaced. If there is no change, then either the ground circuit on the gauge is shorted out with the tachometer gauge or the gauge is not working properly. If you need further assistance with your gauges, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Fans not working properly and temperature gauge rising – 2004 Toyota Camry
ANSWER : Hello – there are still a couple of possible sources of this overheating. A weak water pump, or clogged (internally or externally) radiator may not be transferring enough heat out of the engine. Air pockets in the radiator where the fan switch mounts would cause the fan not to kick off as expected. It’s also possible with your mileage that you have a blown head gasket, which essentially "super-heats" the coolant, and the cooling system is just not capable of dispersing that much heat. I would recommend an inspection of the cooling system by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
