BlindfoldMemphis

I have an 88 4runner 3.0 5speed sr5 so I have the big gauge cluster with a temperature gauge. Now, on a very cold morning my temp needle will sit all the way down for about a minute, but EVERY OTHER TIME whether I start it for the first time or after a four hour drive it sits in the middle. So where does your ride? and could it be the gauge or the sensor?

BT17R

I was suspecting a bad t-stat until you said it reads in the middle on (assuming cold soak) first start.

If you meant first start after warmup, I'd suspect the sensor. If first start after overnight shutdown, I'd suspect t-stat. Either way, someone here has most likely had the same problem and will know. G'luck.

sechott

I have an 88 3.0 5 speed with an aftermarket temp gauge. It runs 180_190 most of the time a little hotter in peak of summer. If I park for about 5 minutes and start it back up it will read about 220 I think that is from no circulation and the coolant drawing heat from the engine, so I am not too concerned.

jacob.cook

My temp needle currently rides at the bottom cause i need a new gauge cluster. it scares me to death.

drew303

sr5 guage clusters in the 2nd gens (1st gen runners) are notorious for failure... mine is junk, the cluster in the 85 my brother had was junk

best thing to do is get an aftermarket temp gauge. accurate, reliable and has an actual temperature readout.

dont trust toyotas crap idiot gauge lol

190F is perfect temp btw

jacob.cook

I had to drive from Portland to Medford to get it home, and i was worried the whole time. Longest 300 miles, just bought the truck and the speed-o and temp gauge didn't work. i was crapping myself everytime i heard a crack or pop.

joegamma1

Mine rides at about 1/4 of the way up when warm.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Blindfold...The way I am understanding your post if after about a minute of running it jumps to the halfway mark. If I am understanding this right and what seems to me and I havent been wrong on this yet when talking to others, is that your truck has the rear heater option, sits in between the two front seats. Mine has the rear heater option and does same thing.

Somehow the rear rear heaters water piping somehow gets hot/warm water to the thermostat, causing it to move the needle before the thermostat has actually opened. I havent completely looked into this, but wanted to put out some info that might get you going in the right direction. I did find that if you have the rear heater option you need a Part # 90916-03070 for Dual Stage Themostat. I still need to get Duals Stage for mine, so I am not going to say this 100% acurate.

93toyrunner2

My 3VZE temperature gauge:
Cold start, will take about 2-3 minutes to creep up to half way. Once the truck has been driven for 3+ minutes, it will sit just before to just after the thermometer symbol in the middle the entire time. I was wondering if it worked at all, until I blew a heater bypass hose, and when sitting in traffic after a long ride, I noticed it creeping up all the way to the overheat range... shut down quick...
I have completely removed the rear heater system connections to the cooling system, and it still does the same thing.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

I should of mentioned mine is a 22re and with yours being removed and a 3.0, I am not sure what all is involved. But my other trucks that dont have the rear heater option, the needles moved as they should. Mine generally run al little less then halfway.

BlindfoldMemphis

I do not have rear heat, do you guys think I have a sensor for an idiot light instead of a gauge?

Cyberman

On this same topic, are the two temperature sensors (engine and gauge) the same part number? My gauge used to sit almost halfway when warm, up until it overheated. Now it always sits 1/4 on the low side (when warm).

brophyn70

mine is about in the middle of the gauge