Could be gauge, could be sensor...

[pixel-pimp]

So Ive noticed this happening more and more lately, where I will be driving, and all of a sudden the water temp gauge will just drop to nothing. Then, it will miraculously fix itself, only to drop again (usually when on boost). Turning the car off will reset this, and it might be fine for the next 2-3 times I drive it, then all of a sudden happens again.

included is a short video link on youtube, youll want to mute it as the bass distorted my mic on my phone...

[Guest]

whatcha say dubstep edition

[pixel-pimp]

Yeah its Mt Eden Dubstep - Hide n Seek (where jaysonnnn derulooo got the soundtrack from)

However that doesnt help me with my problem haha

[resurrection.inc]

wats the ground of the gauge or sender going to. the sender ground needs to be as close as possible to the actual gauge. make sure that the guage ground is by its self and is a good ground. what brand of gauge is it and did you install it your self?

[Guest]

haha gc, sorry, easiest option take the dash gauges out and check the grounds/ clean with contact cleaner. if not sensor would be the next step, seeming to be common for wrxs around this age..

[pixel-pimp]

sweet, so basically check that its the cheapest options first before going down the sensor road.

Should have some spare time after the world cup finishes so will hopefully hold out until then.

Thanks for the responses guys!

[resurrection.inc]

are u running with your factory sender unit and just tapped into that or have you got the sender that come with the gauge plumbed in somewhere? im sure ive got a handful of senders here if you end up needing one.

[pixel-pimp]

thats my stock gauge, havent touched anything to do with it. not mechanically smart enough to bother messing with engine things myself haha. will pull the dash off and clean the contacts hoping its that, failing that ill check with the local auto sparky to see if he can get me a new gauge

[resurrection.inc]

o so its not an aftermarket gauge its the actual in dash gauge? if so sender will be buggered man

[WRXONP]

heres the easiest way you can rule out the wiring which indicates the sensor is faulty

take plug off the single wire coolant temp sensor (single wire temp sensor for gauge and twin wire for ecu)...the single wire sensor earths through the thread like a spark plug does...

so anyway as i was saying..remove wire from sensor and put a split pin in so it gets contact on the wire and earth the split pin..the gauge should rise to maximum (with key on)...if it does this..then the sensor is faulty