Hey so I am now having some problems with my temperature gauge, i tried searching on here but came up empty. Lately in my 95 4runner the gauge does not work. Randomly when I am driving the gauge will kick in and show that the truck is running at the right temperature then i will look back down at my gauges a couple mins later and the temperature gauge is back to 0 and not working again. What direction should i be looking into for this? should i be looking at the sending unit, the temperature gauge itself, a bad connection somewhere, or maybe thermastat going out? any help much appreciated thanks guys!

 

Download the FSM and check the temp sensor for the guage, there should be 2 at the back of the motor on top, I believe.

 

sorry whats the fsm?

 

FSM = Factory Service Manual

 

Here is a link for you.

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...sm/engine.html

 

That kind of sounds like a wiring problem to me, I'd probably start by checking the wiring from the sender to the cluster. But it could be many things.

 

mine did the same thing. I could pound on the dash and get it to snap back to life, but got tired of that. I finally pulled the cluster out. Looked like a coke had been spilled back there. I cleaned it all up and checked all the connections. Works like it should now.

 

Thanks guys! i will dig into it tomorow morning and see how it goes

 

I am having the same problem too....my temperature gauge is in the middle regardless how long I am driving or when I just start the 4runner up....I hear it might be stuck thermostat....

 

Thermostat isnt going to make your temp gauge give a false reading when it is cold, does the guage go down when you turn it off?

 

I have read alot about this when i did my sr5 swap. And it seems that one of the solutions is a dual port thermostat available at the dealership. There is also a "fix" I came across that I want to try before buying the expensive thermo.

remove the cluster and look at the back behind the thermo gauge, there should be 3 wires connect by little brass screws. It is my understanding that if you put in 3 very small washer's behind the screws and re-connect, your gauge should fucntion normally again since your giving your screw a new surface to ground on. Now I don't think these solutions are related but if one does not work the other might..

 

Yes, my temp gauge does go down when I turn it off....I appreciate your insight and assistance....

thank you

 

I had the same issue. Mine would flip all around and usually it was not working at all and when it would it was right on. I discovered that the plastic between the coolant temperature sensor and where it screws into the intake was a crappy design and over time is likely to break and wobble around. I went through several parts stores searching the right sensor out and found a correct replacement at a pick your part. I pulled the intake plentum off and replaced it and a cracked vacuum tee (NOTE: When taking off all the vacuum lines make sure you know where they go back!). Once I put it all back together it worked like a charm! Part was $3 at the local yard! Also replace the intake plentum gasket when you are at it.

 

thank you neighbor! I live in huntington beach too....

 

i was in auto zone yesterday figuring out the issue with that also, we finally came up with a match from a t100, not entirerly sure if it was the wrong one in it when i got the yota or if it really needed to be the one from a t100 but they match so ill be putting it in sat and we will see

 

In summmary; to fix this problem need to get a new temp sensor and the plastic piece that sits btw sensor and intake...

the plastic between the coolant temperature sensor and where it screws into the intake was a crappy design and over time is likely to break and wobble around