Well not really but when I turn the headlights on the temp guage goes up to near the limit in about 30 seconds. When I turn them off the temp drops to normal. Maybe unrelated but recently I swapped in a different radio (plug compatable). Any ideas appreciated.

 

my guess is when you turn the headlights on there is a short in the dash pannel which is making your temp guage go up, you could take your instriment cluster out and chek for shorts and a faulty grid.

 

Sounds like a reasonable next step. I haven't had the instrument cluster out before. Any hints on how to take it apart far enough to look at it ?

 

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84_240_dl_sedan please repeat your reply, I didn't get it..

I poped out the instrument cluster (2 screws port & 2 screws stb after you pop out the plastic insets left & right) short of an electical failure I don't see much that can go wrong other than a bad connection. Anyone seen the failure relating headights to the temp indicator ?

 

It must be a short somewhere because there is no way that it is actually causing the engine to run hotter. Try finding a new instrument cluster at the junkyard mabye.Or just deal with the temp gauge working a little weird its no big deal cuz the engine is fine.