1998 Integra LS, My temp readings are very inaccurate. I have hondata s300, the temps always hang or freeze at 194.7 and 196, I used to plug into the OBD2 port before I got hondata and they would always be 196 also so I know it's not hondata.

The car is for sure over heating(I need a new radiator since my current one is junk aftermarket the previous owner put in and the turbo is heating the coolant up too much)

Sometimes it will randomly update and the coolant will show 227(at the very highest), or 212, but it just sticks and jumps around a lot, makes it hard to know what it's really at. The needle never moves past half either. Do I need to replace the Sensor or the Gauge Sending unit? I know they are both near the oil cap on the head.

 

do your fans come on?

if so its most likely the sending unit sensor.

Id first replace the radiator then go from there.

 

They do come on very very quickly and stay on for a very long time. I'm going to replace the radiator and see if that helps at least, just wish I could monitor the temps more accurately. I'll look into the sending unit sensor.

 

Radiator replaced today,coolant bled, spal fan added, temps staying lower and don't seem to be overheating at idle, but won't know for sure until i take it out on the road. The readings are still screwy though, they like to stick at 194 and 196, I can tell the car is running a bit hotter than that. (before the new radiator/fans it was just stuck at 194 and I knew it was getting hot, then it would jump to like 212 once the sensor registered)

I can get a decent Sender Switch with Gauge for less than 20 bucks, that the first thing I should try?

 

Try a new oem ECT sending unit sensor.

 

is that this one that sits on the side of the thermostat neck area
Radiator Fan Switch - 1AZMX00041 at 1A Auto.com

 

No thats the fan switch.

LikeThis one, OEM is best though.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Water-Temperature-Sender-Sending-Unit-Sensor-for-vehicles-with-gauge-/190539220872?hash=item2c5d05c788&vxp=mtr