Temp Gauge/Warning light 90q

[L DC]

There could be a number of reasons.

1. A bad temp sender sensor or its wire connection
loose or broken. This sensor is located on top of the
flange where the upper radiator hose connects.

2. As Kent points out, a thermostat stuck in the open
position.

I don't know where you're located, but in the case of
a warm climate, such as where I am here in Fl during
this time a year, still won't matter if you have a
thermostat stuck open because the gauge would read
normal after warm up. In fact, car might start to
overheat instead if in stop and go traffic since it
won't allow for radiator to cool down H2O as this
circulates non stop.

Easy to test for stuck open or shut thermostat. 

Start car and go over to engine. Grab upper radiator
hoses, both or one at a time back and forth as they
warm up. If thermostat is doing its job, in about 5
minutes or more, the upper radiator hose will feel a
lot hotter than lower radiator hose. Then, suddenly
you will feel the lower radiator hose get just as hot
as the top one. Radiator fan should start to spin
shortly thereafter.

If both hoses warm up at the same rate with no
apparent temp. difference to the touch, then you have
a thermostat stuck in the open position or lack one
all together.

As for the infamous blinking red light, the coolant
level sensor could be bad or its connecting wire
loose.

The coolant sensor could be fine but its relay could
be the culprint.

In that case, I believe the engine in your car is the
same as the VW Quantum syncro (4KQ drive
train/tranny). If so, click on the link below to fix
for the blinking red light (provided sensor is working
fine and car is not overheating). 
 
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/syncronized/message/23882


3. Loose connection to the temp gauge itself in the
instrument cluster. Would not go crazy checking this
one out until you rule out 1 and 2 or any other
suggestions by fellow listers, though.

Hope that helps.

-Best Regards,

-Louis

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