Is this a bad sensor or a serious problem?

[3134]

So I go for a drive in my car today for about an hour and my temp. gauge never moved from cold. So basically the car ran cold the whole drive or is this impossible and the car is warmed up, but I have a bad sensor/fuse/unplugged some how? I am pretty sure that this is just a small problem, but I would like to know what it might be?

 

[TwoLiterLaser]

Bad sensor, broken plug, bad thermostat.

 

[3134]

what do you mean plug? Not spark plug right?

 

[No_Skillz]

When you say "cold," do you mean the needle never moves as if the car was never turned on, or does it go up but not reach the middle?

Either way, the easiest way to tell is to get your hands on a logger.

 

[3134]

i mean the needle never moves. Yea see I am thinking of getting rid of the car so i haven't had the motivation to invest in a logger.

 

[No_Skillz]

Well if the needle never moves, there are two possibilities I can think of.

1. Guage is broken. No big deal, except you won't know if you are overheating. However, with nothing blocking the AC condensor and radiator (no FMIC, ect), you probably won't overheat.
2. Sensor is broken. This is a more serious problem. Your ECU won't know to turn the fans on if you are starting to run a little warm. Your thermostat will still open and close, cooling will probably be ok during cruising. However, no fans at idle will be a problem.

Even if you can't invest, maybe borrow a logger?

 

[Defiant]

Look at the wire to the sensor on the thermostat housing, and make sure it's plugged in. Unplug it, run it to ground for a few seconds and see if the gauge pegs.

 

[No_Skillz]

Look at the wire to the sensor on the thermostat housing, and make sure it's plugged in. Unplug it, run it to ground for a few seconds and see if the gauge pegs.

I stand corrected. This is the easiest way to tell.