Temp gauge not reaching 200-210
 

just replaced a shot water pump, its been reallllly cold this week in ny 10-15F. Any way on my drive to work the past 2 days the temp gauge has not reached the middle (210ish) it stops inbetween 100 and 210. on the way home from work its a little warmer outside and it gets to the 210 mark. im stumped. im going to stop at advane auto on my way home and see if they have an ir therm so i can scan the tstat housing. its my dd the last thing i need is to overheat and crack something. 97 cherokee 4.0 noob

Verifying the temp is the perfect place to start. Also if the temp is correct you may consider changing you t-stat. If you do find a OEM t-stat recommended temp is 195deg.

^^^This

Does your gauge bounce around?

No it doesnt which is why im confused. it climbs up halfway to 210 and stays there. yea def gonna start with the t stat temp when i leave the office

You made sure to top off you coolent and burp the system right?

That i did, i cant figure out why it reaches 210 in the late afternoon on the way home from work. its maybe 5 degrees warmer outside.

It's not cold soaking as long between your commute hours as it does overnight.

so get this. Its one of those duhhhh moments. I stopped at the auto store borrowed a temp gun. Engine temp fine, went home played some black ops 2. Then it hit me go check the electrical on t stat. Sure as sxxt I must have made a mess while changing the water pump and there was some coolant in the conection. one qtip later the gauge works again. Duhhhhhhh. Thanks for the input this forum is a plethora of insight and knowledge

Black Ops 2 saved the day.

And they say video games are a waste of time. Huh.

exactly, they make the brain function sharper.

How is the proper way to burp the system ?

Drive it. Check the coolant level every couple of cold-hot-cold cycles and add till it stabilizes.