2000 Toyota Celica

KCZIEMANN

MEMBER
2000 TOYOTA CELICA
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
15,000 MILES

Hello, I have a 2000 toyota celica, and its never gotten hot at all, the other day I was sitting in traffic and the temp. Gauge went from normal and in about 2 seconds it shot all the way up to the max. I immediately pulled over and turn it off. As soon as I did, it went back down to normal. I assumed it was the thermostat? And so I had a friend replace it today and I ran the engine for awhile and it seemed fine, so I drove it to the store and it was running just fine, then all of the sudden it did the same thing, it shot from normal to all the way hot and flashing and when I turned it off, it back down to normal?

1 Reply

DSPLC

MECHANIC
220 POSTS

Maybe you have a faulty coolant/water temperature sensor. This one controls the temp. gauge. I just do not know where it is located in your car but is usually where you connect the upper radiator water hose going to the engine. To test if it is the right temp. sensor, when your car is warm (not hot) and temp. gauge is on 1/4, unplug the electrical socket on the temp. sensor pictured below. If the temp. gauge goes down then that is the correct part.

It looks like this (the plastic color may be diffferent). Also, some coolant/water temp. sensors have rubber O ring on it so as coolant will not leak.