2006 Jeep Liberty Overheat on Temperature Gauge

SFMEDIC100

MEMBER
2006 JEEP LIBERTY
3.7L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

I have a 2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7L that has been reading an overheat on the temperature gauge (dash) for about a month now. The oil looks normal, no sign of white smoke, no bubbling from coolant reservoir. I have replaced the following:
Radiator
Thermostat
Water Pump
Coolant Temperature Sensor
Coolant Reservoir Tank

I can let the vehicle idle after start up and the fan will kick on with no overheating. As soon as I drive it around, the gauge will read an overheat. The only solution to this is to turn on the heater full blast and then the gauge will drop to normal levels after awhile. If I do not turn on the heater and am driving around, the gauge will overheat regardless of highway driving or being stopped at a light. Again, I am not seeing any signs of a headgasket. Coolant flows to/from both hoses that run unto the radiator. The engine itself does not overheat (I have pulled over and checked when the gauge goes up).

Could this just be a bad gauge? Could it be a shorted wire? Is it a head gasket and I am just not seeing any of the signs?

1 Reply

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

First use one of those infraredtemp sensors that are hand held they are cheap an dfairly accurate to make sure you car isn't overheating. Then check to see if the ground is ok to cluster. It may be a bad gauge in the cluster or the little transistor that does. My oil pressure guague on my truc k goes all over so I only pay attention if the warning chime kicks in. It may need to be rebuilt-cluster. Or it could be a shorted wire.