87-93 owners beware?

srv1 · 08-26-2002, 10:00 PM

well maybe i am behind in the times or it is just my car, but whenever i put the headlights on, the temperature gauge goes up a little. does anyone else have this problem? or is it just my car? if you never noticed, like me for 2 years owning it, now just noticed, try it and see what happens.

joe4speed · 08-26-2002, 10:56 PM

Mine did that when my battery was running low, for some reason. When I got the 130 amp alternator it went away.

oneba87lx · 08-27-2002, 01:06 PM

mine does it too. I don't know why though

USMC302 · 08-27-2002, 01:09 PM

Never noticed it before but will pay close attention today....

mysweetlx · 08-27-2002, 01:21 PM

Never happened to me. It doesn't make sense why that would cause the temp to increase. Are there any other factors that may be causing this - anything else you're doing at the time, etc???

PKRWUD · 08-27-2002, 02:59 PM

It sounds to me like you have a deteriorating ground connection either at the sensor, or the headlights. When you turn the lights on, the grounding available to the sensor is "borrowed" by the lights, affecting the gauge.

Use a jumper wire with aligator clips at both ends, and attach one end to a good ground (pref. the batter post), and the other to the brass base of the temp sensor for the gauge. Start the engine, and turn on your lights and see if it still happens. If it does, then try cleaning the grounds from the headlights. if the problem goes away, or diminishes, you need to R&R the sensor, and clean the threads.

FWIW, a tip I learned in CC that has always been accurate is if you ever have one headlight get really dull, and the other seems a little bright, clean the ground connection for the BRIGHTER of the two headlights. It's got a weak connection, and ends up "borrowing" the ground from the good light, making it dull.

Take care,
~Chris

lxfiveoh · 08-28-2002, 11:49 AM

Could be the instrument panel's voltage regulator.

This used to happen on my 1984 3.8 Mustang, except that ALL the gauges would climb to the max, stick for a few moments, then return to normal...

Good luck,

Sonics2042 · 08-28-2002, 04:40 PM

My car has done that for a while also...None of the other gauges change, but the temperature rises about 20 degrees all of sudden

!!

Thanks,
DoranW

srv1 · 08-28-2002, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonics2042
My car has done that for a while also...None of the other gauges change, but the temperature rises about 20 degrees all of sudden !!

Thanks,
DoranW

that is what mine is doing. i also noticed you own a 90 as well. i wonder if it has to be with our build date? huh...

08-26-2002, 10:00 PM	#1
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	87-93 owners beware? well maybe i am behind in the times or it is just my car, but whenever i put the headlights on, the temperature gauge goes up a little. does anyone else have this problem? or is it just my car? if you never noticed, like me for 2 years owning it, now just noticed, try it and see what happens. __________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

08-26-2002, 10:56 PM	#2
joe4speed He said Member...heh, heh Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Jupiter, Florida U.S.A. Posts: 3,718	Mine did that when my battery was running low, for some reason. When I got the 130 amp alternator it went away. __________________ *Joe!* 1988 GT, 13.58@101mph Check out my listing! Click here! Or my website:www.joe4speed.com

08-27-2002, 01:06 PM	#3
oneba87lx Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: lake city, FL Posts: 26	mine does it too. I don't know why though __________________ 87 notch,maf conv, gt-40 int, gt-40 heads, f303, 1.6rr,24lb inj,190lph, 3 chamber flowmasters, mac equal length shorties,3.73's

08-27-2002, 01:09 PM	#4
USMC302 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Gallatin, Tn Posts: 1,326	Never noticed it before but will pay close attention today.... __________________

08-27-2002, 01:21 PM	#5
mysweetlx Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York Posts: 248	Never happened to me. It doesn't make sense why that would cause the temp to increase. Are there any other factors that may be causing this - anything else you're doing at the time, etc??? __________________ Damn this thing's fast!

08-27-2002, 02:59 PM	#6
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	It sounds to me like you have a deteriorating ground connection either at the sensor, or the headlights. When you turn the lights on, the grounding available to the sensor is "borrowed" by the lights, affecting the gauge. Use a jumper wire with aligator clips at both ends, and attach one end to a good ground (pref. the batter post), and the other to the brass base of the temp sensor for the gauge. Start the engine, and turn on your lights and see if it still happens. If it does, then try cleaning the grounds from the headlights. if the problem goes away, or diminishes, you need to R&R the sensor, and clean the threads. FWIW, a tip I learned in CC that has always been accurate is if you ever have one headlight get really dull, and the other seems a little bright, clean the ground connection for the BRIGHTER of the two headlights. It's got a weak connection, and ends up "borrowing" the ground from the good light, making it dull. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

08-28-2002, 11:49 AM	#7
lxfiveoh Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 54	Could be the instrument panel's voltage regulator. This used to happen on my 1984 3.8 Mustang, except that ALL the gauges would climb to the max, stick for a few moments, then return to normal... Good luck, __________________ Nelson 1990 Mustang LX 5.0 http://fiveoh.homestead.com

08-28-2002, 04:40 PM	#8
Sonics2042 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 381	My car has done that for a while also...None of the other gauges change, but the temperature rises about 20 degrees all of sudden !! Thanks, DoranW __________________ What I have: 1990 Red Mustang 5.0 LX: [BBK X-Pipe]-[MAC Cat-Back Exhaust] [MAC Cold Air Intake]-[BBK Equal Shorties] [3.55 Gears]-[Cobra Intake Manifold (Upper and Lower] [E-303 Cam]-[Granetelli Mass Air Flow Sensor] [Front and rear sway bars]-[New black carpet and seats.] [Adjustable Fuel Regulator]-[T5 Conversion w/ K. Cobra Clutch/Hurst STS] [Cobra Throttle Body]-[130A Alt. Conversion] Thinking about: Aftermarket Heads! Vortech A-Trim

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