Hello, I have a 1996 Honda Accord Temp Gauge Doesn't Work, it's a dead stick. There is no warning when the car is over heating, No Beep or anything is there a way to swap out that Gauge? I think this gauge was disable for re-sale, at the time a I bought the car I didn't know it had blown head gasket, but I got it fixed.

 

To replace the gauge, there's 2 screws at the top of the pod. Remove the dimmer switch and defroster and set them to the side. I don't remember which switch had the screw behind it, but I would say it's the dimmer switch. Note: I removed my cover around the stereo so that I had additional room to remove the cover but didn't disconnect the hvac controls.

 

Before going there, can you turn the key on, ground the wire to the temp sender and see if the gauge moves to hot-don't leave it like this for long, as that will def kill the gauge.

If it moves, other issues. If it doesn't then yes, pull the cluster, me-I'd test the resistance on the wire from the back of the gauge to the sender and then replace the gauge it the resistance is zero.

 

What if at cold start the temp gauge imediatly rises all the way up? What's going on ?

 

I have to assume you have the same year/engine as the OP.

If the gauge pegs as soon as the key is turned to "on"/pos II (note the engine is not running) then I start by inspecting the wire to the gauge sending unit to see if it is grounded. Next I'd test the resistance of the gauge sending unit when the engine is cold - what is the resistance reading?

I could keep going but that should be engough to get started.