Temperature gauge not working

[franks]

I am out of town and my temp gauge just went all the way to the left. The water in the pipes are warm. The t,stat housing has a temperatur sensor and a engine coolant sensor. I suppose I should go by a dealer and replace the engine coolant sensor? What does the temperature sensor do? Could it be any thing elsa?

[shogun]

That sensor does not do any other thing than indicating the temperature in the dash cluster. Has no influence on engine management.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

You when your running too hot, before you blow some thing expensive.

[shogun]

who on earth knows really what is the temperature between 12 o'clock and the red line? And what temp is half way between 12 o'clock and the red line?

http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/gauge1.jpg

[632 Regal]

sweet!

[franks]

What do the two sensors do? Which one do I replace so the gauge will show the temp?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Do two different jobs.

One is the Gauge, and the other is for the low temp sensor for the ECU.

Mix 'em up in your gauge goes nuts and your car runs like a washing machine full of shoes & bricks.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

10 O'clock to 12 = warming up...A Okay

12 O'clock = everyting is working fine...cool

1 O'clock = huh? what's wrong? Better pull over & check it out!

2 O'clock = O'****! o'clock and I am on my way to some major wrenching soon.

[shogun]

The 2 have different colours. If you do not tell us if you have an M20 or an M50 engine and/or the VIN , I cannot tell you the p/n.
Anyway, easiest: remove one plug from one sensor: if no indication at all in the dash on the temp indicator, you got the right one.
If still something indicated, take the other one.
You can check here and can get even online help
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/
Takes less than 5 minutes to do that.