Engine temperature gauge on dashboard

[farhan]

engine temperature gauge needle stays around the C mark on my Prado 2001 1KD. i am cruising on main roads without any passengers / load.
the ambient during the driving is 18 ~ 20 deg C.
is that normal?

 

[Beau]

Nope, not normal. Gauge should be about 2 needle ticks below the middle. Does you needle move at all? If not could be an electrical problem like sensor. If it moves a little, it could be the thermostat stuck open.

 

[farhan]

Checked the coolant temperature sensor's resistance as per 1KD workshop manual - it was as per specs and equal to another replacement sensor

replaced the thermostat valve with a new one

checked the engine coolant temperature by connecting the scanner after it had idled for 15 ~ 20 minutes, the temperature was around 74 deg C, however the needle was still on C.

is it a faulty temperature gauge ??

 

[farhan]

additionally - the needle does move a bit from the dead level to C and a tick above C when the engine achieves normal temperature.

 

[Beau]

Yes, sounds like the gauge is at fault.