Temp Gauge on my Subaru Forester not working

[valent|n0]

Hi
Temp gauge on my subaru forester stays at the lowest point (doesn't budge at all)

so I don't have a monitor for the engine temp right now. It's been like this for almost 2 years now. earlier in that 2year period the temp gauge will work 30% of the time. and in the past 6 - 8 months or so it never work again.. (I am talking about the temp gauge in side my speedometer gauge)

Fellow forester driver suggested if I can hooked up Scangauge II and read the coollant temp sensor. I don't know anything about fixing this kind of stuff. would anyone able to help me and have Scangauge II to figure this out.

so far as I understand this could be
1. thermostat
2. coolant temp sensor
3. or the Temp Gauge It self (which means the speedometer cluster assembly)

any input or suggestions? where should I bring this for diagnose?

Thank you

[godwin]

I don't know anything about fixing this kind of stuff

Take it to a shop.

[lexluthor09]

godwin, always ending threads before they turn into trouble. awesome! thanks.

First of all. Any good indepth scan tool can see coolant temperature sensor.

Your gauge is probably reading off a seperate temperature sensor not related to the ECT that a scan tool will read temp off of.

Easiest thing would be to find the temperature sensor for the gauge, jump the two pins, and see if the needle jumps up. If it does your gauge is fine and just your sensor is broken. If it doesn't then your gauge is no good.

If its the thermostat and its stuck open then your lower rad hose would never heat up.

If you can't do any of this stuff, feel free to PM and we'll go from there.