When I start my truck the temp guage instantly redlines and stays there. Even when its cold. Whats up with that?

 

electirc gauge taking a dump??my temp gauge on the 99 always reads cold.

 

I guess. Could it be the gauge or something else?

 

Does it return to normal after a few seconds of engine running?

Mine shoots to nearly red after its been driven for a lenghty period of time and restarted. However, after the engine has been running for seconds, it returns to normal.

 

Sender, gauge or wiring is shot. Factory Service manual should list the resistance tests for the sender and gauge, if they check out then it is the wiring. A quick test is to disconnect the sender and see what the gauge reads, then short the sender wire to ground and see what the gauge reads. I think normal operation is that disconnected=cold, shorted=hot.

 

its a 22re, hmmmm.... temp overshoot problem needing the upgraded 2 stage thermostat? check out 4crawlers site for info on it... it says for 87, but in reality, its all the 22r and re engines... my truck did the same thing, put in the 2 stage thermostat, been all better since

 

My temp guage is completly disconnected and it still moves the needle every once and a while. I do not trust the 1st gen temp guages, get a mechanical.

 

I went mechanical. My stock one would be normal, the when truck was put under any load it would peg to the cold side--that sucked.

 

Me too