I have a 2000 GSR all stock (motor wise) with a new OEM Honda thermostat, rad, water pump and sending unit. The temperature gauge fluctuates randomly and doesn't read correctly but it never goes past half. I've hooked up my own scan tool while driving around and the water temp stays at a steady 180F no matter how/where I drive, I also verified this with our Honda HDS at work.

So my question is do the clusters go bad?

The only reason why it's baffling me is if I unplug the connector at the sending unit, the gauge goes to C and if I ground it, the gauge goes to H, so it seems like it's working still.

 

yea they can go bad. try a different cluster. The temp gauge may be bad.

 

Found a ground screw loose on the back of the cluster that holds the green metallic film on, we'll see tomorrow if it fixes it.

I also cleaned off the crusty ground at the thermostat housing.

 

Most likely that's the issue.. given my issues i have had with a type r cluster i purchased it had a bad fuel gauge.. I was reading somewhere where it says the life span of things that make the ''cluster'' work.. I'll see if i can pull up the thread

Cool thing is.. you can pick up just a gauge from acura automotive parts, if you need to.

 

Any of the solder connections can crack causing strange behaviour.

 

Yeah one of the ground screws on the back of the cluster was backed off for some reason. Tightened it up and it's been perfect since.

 

Probably from vibrations maybe.