Intermittent Temp Gauge??? Help..Advice Needed...!!!

**spooled951** · 12-02-2008 05:26 PM

okay so i just got an s4. the car has 58k on it and i just have a quick question. just drove the car and timed how long it took to warm up. it took the car 17 min to completly warm up to middle. is this normal? was shifting around 2500 till it warmed up.
also the gauge seems to jump around a little and not slowly climb at all times.
let me explain...so i was right below the middle marker and randomly went down to the quarter then 3 seconds later jumped right back up to the middle.
the car when warmed up never overheats or moves when it gets to the middle.
just wondering what this could be as it does not seem normal to me

thanks for your help
chris

ohh and i topped off coolant so that cant be it...

**s42k5b** · 12-02-2008 05:34 PM

on b5 s4's we have a coolant temp sensor or switch that shows the same signs thatyou are having when they are faulty. Do a search on that.

**s42k5b** · 12-02-2008 05:36 PM

you posted this in the b6 and b7 section but it says you have a b5 s4. I'm confused

**spooled951** · 12-02-2008 05:40 PM

yea sorry guys that car got totaled and now i have a 04 s4

**brianmfournier** · 12-02-2008 06:03 PM

I have the same year with the same problem, also interested to see if anyone has some input

**spooled951** · 12-02-2008 06:57 PM

bump

**s42k5b** · 12-02-2008 09:02 PM

COOLANT TEMP SENSOR. replace it

**spooled951** · 12-02-2008 10:11 PM

arite anyone have a pic of where it is located or know how hard it is.
thanks
chris

**spooled951** · 12-04-2008 08:44 AM

bumppp help

**szinkuti** · 12-04-2008 02:16 PM

if its taking a long time to heat up...then poss. the thermostat....it comes together with the housing....it usually throws a cel for Cooling System Malfunction though...i just replaced mine 3 weeks ago.....