1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
...insturment cluster.
i've done it many times, and let me tell you, you really only want to do that if you have to.
The gauge rising fast is a characteristic of how the temp gauge system works.
the older cars use a temp gauge system that reads the actual, realtime, tempurature of the engine. This means that you will be able to see the exact moment the t-stat opens and the radiator fans come on, as the needle will drop some... and then raise up, and fall again... and so thus t is constantly moving... much more so than any other car i've driven, which usually just rise to operating level and stay there.
the newer saab systems have some sort of averaging system that keeps the needle from moving up and down like that... it keeps it more steady, but it's not the actual current engine temp.
as for me i've got a 1990, and it as te same system as you.
i'm not exactly sure how fast your gauge rises.... but when i start my car in cold weather, it takes maybe 7-10 minutes for the temp gauge to reach it's highest peak, and the t-stat to open and needle to fall again...
maybe even less time than that, but it's definately a couple of minutes.
if your gauge is raising up immediatley, that doesn't necesarrily mean that it's broken...
the number one rule about these older style gauges is this....
if the needle ISN'T in the RED, then you're FINE! ;)
oncethat needle goes up into the red, then you're overheating.
now...
there are replacement thermostats and high speed rad. fan temp switches that you can buy that lower the temp where the engine starts flowing cooland and operating the rad. fan...
waxstat and whaler are the two best brands that make t-stats for our car, and what you are looking for is the 82 degree thermostat.
now i think whaler is the only good brand that makes the matching 82 degree high speed fan "thermoswitch" or high speed cooling fan switch...
i've got these things installed in my car, and i was living in florida at the time i had them put it.
in 100+ degree weather, in stop and go traffic, my temp gauge would never go above 10 o'clock. it was very comforting because i was worried my car would overheat in, the, uh, heat. ;)
so... that's about it... but if you feel the gauge is just moving around with a mind of it's own... post it on this thread... and i'll talk you through removing the insturment cluster...
you'll need to buy another cluster... or find a parts car... because it's impossible to just swap out the temp gauge...
-gavin
posted by 69.168.104...
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