Temp gauge is driveing me nuts

[mrsleeve]

Ok I bought the my 88 325is after it had been sitting for a year and a half. The previous owner had lt alot of the manitnence go. So got it up and running but my temp gauge runs at about the 3\4 mark. I have put in a new clutch fan (it was bad) no change Also new temp sensor. The new temp sender brought my OBC back to life. When I ground the sender lead out the gauge pegs into the red as soon as I turn the key. And last but not least I have put a thermometer in the coolant tank after a trip to town in 90+ degree heat and the coolant was 195 F letting it sit and idel for another 10 min temp in the tank never went up.

Any ideas, bad sender or is the gauge it self acting up?

Oh yeah I have burped the the system all of the air is out

Thanks
RJ

[88325isboy]

You could try to get some Redline Water Wetter that works very good.
Also you will have to get all the air out of the system before you let the car warm up. E30's are hard to get the air out after they have gotten up to temp. Then also i have seen some cars that just down right run alittle hot. Also make sure there is a stream of coolant coming out of the coolant bottle. You should be able to see this stream of coolant when the cap is off the tank.
Bobby

[hamann318is]

Mine had a very funky gauge. Take the cluster out and tighten the nut on the back where the coolant temp gauge is. I'm betting this will fix your problem.

[88325isboy]

I bet that will fix it too. Make sure that you clean the contacts on the back of the gauge too.

[mrsleeve]

Thanks guys but the new sender I got from the parts store was the problem. It was a bad from the factory so I got a new one and everthing is fine neddle sits stright up all day long now