General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Temp guage reading differently

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-21-2020, 02:55 PM
  #1  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
dryan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Washington
Posts: 2
Total Cats: 0
Default Temp guage reading differently

Hi all, I'm having an issue where my cluster coolant gauge is spiking up to around 2 o'clock. That usually means it's running pretty warm if it moves at all, but when I have my laptop plugged in my TunerStudio gauge says that I am at ~195f.

I recently replaced the sensor to the ecu, but haven't changed the gauge one. Unless I'm mistaken, they take readings at fairly similar spots on the back of the head, so how likely is it that my sensor is just bad?
dryan is offline  
Old 09-21-2020, 07:34 PM
  #2  
Newb
 
drakec9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 35
Total Cats: 2
Default

Can you post the year of your car and maybe the engine code as well if its a 1.8L. Hard to help with no info on the vehicle
drakec9 is offline  
Old 09-21-2020, 07:53 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
SpartanSV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Greeley, CO
Posts: 1,226
Total Cats: 168
Default

Why did you replace your original sensor? I would wager the sensor for the cluster is reading correctly, and you received an ecu sensor with a different resistance curve which is giving a lower temp reading then actual.
SpartanSV is offline  
Old 09-22-2020, 09:16 AM
  #4  
Elite Member
 
x_25's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: NorthWest NJ
Posts: 1,821
Total Cats: 141
Default

My NB does this. Try turning the alternator off and see if the gauge reads normal (just turn the engine off and then the key to run so the guages read). For some reason, any time the alternator is running on my NB the oil, fuel, and temp guages all read slightly high, even though the charging voltage is fine.
x_25 is offline  
Old 09-24-2020, 06:27 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Bronson M's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,106
Total Cats: 217
Default

Both the temp and oil pressure gauges are idiot lights with a needle. You really can't use their position to mean anything other than cold, normal and already puked a head gasket. Trust the ECM reading and or get a real gauge.
Bronson M is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BrownMiata
Engine Performance
16
06-15-2020 12:31 PM
sparkybean
ECUs and Tuning
7
08-27-2015 05:20 PM
anarchyx34
General Miata Chat
8
03-09-2010 12:49 PM
sxevegan
General Miata Chat
1
03-22-2009 02:41 PM
kung fu jesus
General Miata Chat
3
08-23-2006 01:04 PM



Quick Reply: Temp guage reading differently



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:09 PM.