Looking for some info.

I Was heading to the mountains this past weekend and as I was leaving
town my water temp. alarm came on. The analog temp gauge was showing
about a 1/3 scale. This is a Canadian Car so it was sitting at about
80 degrees Celcius. This did not appear correct so I turned the car
off and then on again and with in a few seconds the water temp gauge
showed 110 degrees Celcius. Currently it is about -30 F outside here
and this is the coldest it has been all winter.

When I pulled to the side of the road and turned the car off, the rad
fan would run (as it should) to cool the car down. So I figure I have
a bad thermostat but then why would the temp gauge show low and then
high once I turn the car off and then on again.

I also noticed that while the car was hot and idling the rad fan
would not come on. Only when the car was off would it run.

I also checked both relays under the hood which control the fan while
the car is running and while it is off. They are both good.

All the way home The temp gauge would flutuate dramatically all
within a few seconds. Needless to say I stopped many times to make
sure I was not overheating the car.

Anyone know if this is just a thermostat problem or do I have
multiple problems here?

Any help would be great.

Peter Schoettle

Not sure if this will help but have you checked the coolant mixture to make sure it is good to the extreem of -30. when my honda fluid froze i was getting crazy readings.

My car is also garaged. It never gets below -10.

If not, that leads me to believe you have a sensor or sending unit going haywire; this could also explain the temp fluctuations. A new thermostat won't hurt anything, though, isn't very expensive, and will give you that extra peace of mind. If that doesn't work, though, I'd say it's the temp sending unit or the coolant temp sensor. 93S4Q could be on the right track, though, for weather that extreme the coolant mix should be closer to 60/40 antifreeze/water.

I am going to have the thermostat changed on Thursday. They will also check the thermo switch? At least that what I think it is called. Located below the lower rad hose on the rad on the driver side. I will let you know what happens.

Peter S.