Temperature Gauge Inaccurate...?

[Spectrese]

Hi...Last year I bought a 1999 Tahoe 2-door 4x4...the temperature gauge normally rises from 0 at cold start and then holds right at 160 degrees winter or summer.

Thinking a lower temp thermostat was put in...I had a new OEM 195 degree thermostat installed with a recent coolant flush. The temp reading contnues to rise only to 160 and holds.

The mechanic put a probe in the hot coolant an it read 192 degrees...so he said my dashboard temperature gauge was defective and the whole instrument cluster would need to be replaced if I wanted an accurate reading on the coolant temperature.

Any ideas to resolve the problem....?

 

[lesterl]

If you wanted to throw parts at it, start with the sender in the block as it would be cheaper than a cluster.......

 

[dcil]

Mine does that too. 99 2door. I changed the coolant temp sensor and didn't help. I'm assuming ground or cluster

 

[Spectrese]

Temp. Gauge Inaccurate

Well..I replaced the sender unit as suggested...got some improvement - now from a cold start it normally progresses up to about 225 degrees (1 line to the right of 220) and stays there pretty much stable.

Not sure if that is good or bad...?

At least it is closer to measured temp....