Temperature gauge maxed out? Get your problem diagnosed at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(13)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(13)


Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection Service

Your car’s engine needs to maintain the right operating temperature. As it runs, it creates immense amounts of heat. Coolant is circulated through the engine to absorb heat, and then it goes back to the radiator, where the radiator fan helps wick away the collected heat. Once cooled, the coolant is then sent back into the engine to do it all again. This should keep your engine in the normal operating temperature range, but if your temperature gauge is maxed out, there could be something seriously wrong.

How this system works:

The temperature gauge in your dash is connected to the car’s computer and from there to a temperature sensor on the engine block. The sensor measures the temperature of your car’s coolant (it uses resistance, but the actual resistance values can vary drastically from one automaker to another, and from one model to another).

The information read by the sensor is sent to the car’s computer, which adjusts the temperature gauge and also plays a role in the cooling system. Depending on the temperature level, the radiator fan will cycle on and off. As the temperature of your coolant rises, the needle in your temperature gauge should rise, moving from cold to normal. However, it may move all the way to hot in some cases.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Low Coolant: The first suspected cause of your temperature gauge maxing out is low coolant. If this occurs, your engine can overheat, and serious damage can result, up to and including cracking the block. However, if the engine isn’t actually hot (the temp gauge is maxed out but there’s no abnormal levels of heat from the engine), this isn’t the problem.

  • Broken Temp Gauge: If the temperature gauge is maxed out but the engine isn’t actually hot, then the problem may be a broken temperature gauge. The needle may be stuck in the hot range (this can happen after overheating the engine), or a stepper gear in the gauge may be damaged.

  • Failed Temp Sensor: If the temperature sensor on your engine block has failed, it may not send any information to the system, or it may send an erroneous signal, causing the gauge to rise without any actual overheating. It’s also possible that the sensor is shorting.

  • Failed Thermostat: If your car’s thermostat sticks in the closed position, coolant will not fully cycle through the engine, and it will begin to overheat. Your temperature gauge will rise quickly, particularly if it is very warm outside.

  • Cooling Fan Motor Failure: If the motor for your radiator cooling fan fails, it will not cycle on. This reduces the amount of airflow over the radiator, meaning that much of the heat is retained by the coolant, and it will not be able to absorb more from the engine.

  • Bad Fan Switch: Another reason your radiator fan might not be working is a bad fan switch. This switch controls the cycling of your radiator fan(s), and if it fails, it can cause overheating.

  • Air in System after Coolant Service: If you’ve recently had your engine coolant drained and refilled, it’s possible there’s air in the system. Air bubbles can form and block coolant from cycling through the engine, causing it to overheat.

What to expect:

A professionally trained mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect your car’s temperature gauge and other components. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect the coolant level of your vehicle, as well as the temperature sensor and other components in order to determine the cause of the gauge maxing out. It may be necessary to test drive the vehicle and verify if the engine is actually overheating, or if the problem lies with the sensor or the gauge.

How important is this service?

If your car is actually overheating, it’s a very serious problem that could quickly lead to engine-killing damage. Even if the problem is just a malfunctioning sensor or gauge, the issue is still serious, as you will have no means of observing the actual temperature of your engine coolant. One of our professional mechanics can inspect and repair your system.


Recent Temperature gauge is maxed out Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(13)

Rating Summary
13
0
0
0
0
13
0
0
0
0

Sebastian

5 years of experience
112 reviews
Sebastian
5 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Temperature gauge is maxed out - Boca Raton, Florida
Sebastian, showed his expertise in diagnosing the issue in my car. He explained us the cause of the issue, and was able repair it in timely manner. I will certainly be using him for the next auto work.

Andrew

15 years of experience
506 reviews
Andrew
15 years of experience
Toyota Matrix L4-1.8L - Temperature gauge is maxed out - Portland, Oregon
Needed my car figured out urgently as I'm in school a bigger part of the week; Andrew showed up super early, and got the problem fixed quickly. Would absolutely hire him again; thanks Andrew!

Andrew

11 years of experience
337 reviews
Andrew
11 years of experience
Buick LaCrosse V6-3.8L - Temperature gauge is maxed out - Pikesville, Maryland
After diagnosing potential problems that were causing fluid leaks, Andrew's recommendations will be addressed.

MICHAEL

33 years of experience
184 reviews
MICHAEL
33 years of experience
Hyundai Sonata L4-2.4L Hybrid - Temperature gauge is maxed out - Croydon, Pennsylvania
It was a real pleasure to have Michael taking care of my car. He is reliable, he cares about you, your car and your pocket. He will go an extra mile to do what is best for you. Mechanic you can trust. Great guy!

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Throttle Control Cable
Common signs include improper cable adjustment, slow acceleration response, a dirty or frayed cable, and cruise control not working properly.
Insurance Requirements for Car Registration in Vermont
The The state of Vermont requires that all drivers carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, or “financial responsibility,” in order to cover the costs associated with a car accident. This is required to legally register and operate a vehicle...
How to Choose a Sedan
There are many different vehicle categories in the marketplace currently, and one of the most sought after is the full-size sedan. Sedans are cars with four doors and a trunk, not a hatch or liftgate. Even among full-size sedans, there...

Check Engine Light; Code P1449

Hello. Code P1449 is for the hybrid battery overheating. Honda has issued a TSB 04-028 for this issue. You will have to take your car to the dealer, since the high voltage battery must be accessed for repair. Honda has...

What is a better battery to purchase: AutoCraft or Duralast?

Hi, thanks for your question, I'd be happy to offer my insight. Both of these batteries are well reviewed and offer the same amount of power. My recommendation depends largely on where you live and the typical climate there. AutoCraft...

What happens if I don't replace knock sensor?

The knock sensor on the engine is there to detect for an engine noise from pre ignition (pining) normally. This is so the computer can advance the ignition timing to the maximum it can without the engine pinging. This gives...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

+1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com