i like having an aftermarket gauge, that way i know exactly what temperature im running at, instead of just wondering where that middle line really is.

 

Same as mine.

 

Yep, mine stays in the middle from about 170-235 F.

 

X2...

 

So, mt_goat, you have BOTH the factory gauge (still operational) and an aftermarket gauge. I'd like to do that. Where did you put the sensor for the aftermarket gauge, and what kind did you get if you don't mind me asking? And what should the normal temp range be? I ask because a year later I'm STILL having temp issues where the factory gauge goes up just enough to make the A/C shut down, and I'm looking for answers to the question, is my engine really running hot.

 

(Oops, double post)

 

Ok, first take out your gauge cluster and remove the temp gauge with the 3 screws in the back. If you look on either side of the black arc of the gauge you will see a small diode on one side and a larger blue resistor on the other side. Use a soldering gun and remove these replacing the diode with the 56ohm 5watt resistor and the blue one with the 120ohm 5 watt resistor. I'm going to try and attach pics but the replacement resistors are much larger and have to be placed in so that there is interference. It isn't hard but needs to be thought out and test fitted first before soldering in place of the originals..........Ok to hell with the pics, here is a link to the Australian site and the write up there by the original guy. Good pics showing the difference before and after the modification.

http://toyotasurf.asn.au/forum/viewt...4717&highlight

It is a nice way to have a good temp gauge without adding clutter to your dash!

 

Sorry to bring back an old thread but since summer is approaching this might be a worthy thread to have on hand haha. I just did an sr5 cluster swap and my temp guage now sits right under halfway. In the other cluster it would sit like an 1/6 inch above cold. Weird.

 

my temp gauge sits right in front of me, about 8 inches forward of the steering wheel

 

Har har har. Just couldn't resist eh? hahaha

 

Hahaha, nope

in all sriousness, with my 22re, it use to set just below the 1/2 mark, both before and after the electric fan swap. Be before the electric fan, if I sat at an idle with the AC on, it would slowly creep up hotter to the point where I would shut it off in fear of it overheating. After the electric fan, I could park still, run at 3k RPMs, and blow the AC, for however long I wanted to, and the temp gauge wouldn't budge

 

Come to think of it mine sits dead centre as well. The two times ive seen the gauge go above halfway it was fully into the HOT section. (once when the HG blew, and another time when I stopped after driving up steep hills in 2nd gear)

I generally keep an eye on the gauges as I drive and didnt notice it creeping up at all, just went from 50% to 100% straight away.

 

When it's warm it gets to around 1/2..
Idk.
My thermostat is stuck wide open, lol.

 

mine sits at between 1/4 and 1/2 (22re) nice and cool and never moves. though my buddies 4runner (3vze) does the same thing you are saying, its cold while crusiing down the hwy but in traffic or stopped it starts heating up and it idles down? actually after we where on a 6 hour trip in the mountains it was somehow idling at 200rpm lol cant believe it made it there and back. also his 4runner eats oil because it leaks some place and we cant figure out where its dripping from and its not mixing with coolaint? these things might be part of his problem though.

 

Ha ha this thread is kinda funny to me. After the rebuild of my engine last year i posted up that my temp needle never went past the c mark on the cluster. After shooting the motor with a temp gun i found that my normal operating temp is fine but the gauge sits right at the cold mark. It still does this and i have yet to figure out why. I just chalked it up to a falty gauge and assume it's running fine when the gauge is at the cold mark. It's right under 200 deg. or close to it.

 

where do you dig up such knowledge

 

X2...there more, where's a list? É{ƒµ±ƒ§╚≤æσ▓│╜♥Æz▬ñ○Ü╞╗Ü/

EDIT: I found a list: http://www.forlang.wsu.edu/help/keyboards.asp

 

Mine was at 1/4, no more. It had a 180 thermostat in it. I found a 195 thermostat at Autozone and now it runs at just under 1/2 all day. I had to ask specifically for a higher temp thermostat because 180 is what they want to give you for some reason. Isn't stock somewhere around 192?

 

When I rebuilt my 3VZE, I put a new TStat (192degree) and a new coolant temp sender.

My temp gauge sis just under 50% (after warming up) all the time. Idling, highway, a little trailing yesterday... Solid 48% (give or take.)