1986 Mercury Sable faulty temp reading?

141,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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KOBEMYDOG
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hello pros. my 1986 sable wagon temp indicator sticks in every so often at 3/4. stays in place even when the car is shut down and cranked in the morn. and then will rise like it's overheating the next day. i replaced heat sensors and had a diagnostics test done and had the fan checked. all was clear. i don't have any water in the oil. but there is a bit of steam or vapor that comes from the exhaust. but i am, in a humid climate. even just today i was driving it and the temp read like it was rising. i pulled over let it "cool down" for an hr or so . and the guage never reset. so i drove it home and checked again. no leaks. nothing. maybe it's just the guage? just never had one guage go bad. ever hear of this prob with the mercs?
Mar 29, 2010 at 10:10 AM
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BLUELIGHTNIN6
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the faulty reading of the coolant temperature gauge could be the result of a bad coolant temperature sending unit which is on the rear of the engine, or a faulty coolant temperature sensor located on the left top side of engine for the 3.0L engines.
Mar 29, 2010 at 10:31 AM
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KOBEMYDOG
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i actually replaced both. i appreciate the help.but this one's got me stumped. some days it works. others it's like the thing has a mind of it's own.
Mar 29, 2010 at 12:24 PM
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BLUELIGHTNIN6
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do you have the standard or the electronic equipped gauge cluster?
Mar 29, 2010 at 12:26 PM
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KOBEMYDOG
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standard needle guages.
Mar 29, 2010 at 3:19 PM
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BLUELIGHTNIN6
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well looks like those are the only sensors connected with the gauge...may have a wire issue at the back of the cluster or at one of the sensors. other than that i'm at a loss as well , sorry .
Mar 29, 2010 at 3:33 PM
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