Hi, folks.

My daughter has a 1995 850 GLT (nonturbo).

Earlier this summer I replaced her radiator (which was leaking).

Last Saturday, she'd been driving (~20 minutes) and stopped at a store. Only then did she notice steam and leaking coolant.

She doesn't remember her temp gauge being high or any other warnings / indications of a problem.

I topped off the reservoir with water and drove it home (~30 mins) with no problem...BUT...her temp gauge never rose above the 1/4 mark.

Her fan works...and I just now flushed her radiator and refilled it with coolant.

After running the car for awhile (with the heater on inside the car), the temp gauge moved toward center -- and then dropped out completely. It's not "twitchy" or anything...moves gradually.

Thoughts? Thermostat? Temperature sensor?

By the way, when I replaced her radiator, we lost some transmission fluid -- which I neglected to replace. (Am on it.) Might that be the problem??

Many, MANY thanks for any advice.

 

Steam and leaking coolant??? What color is the reservoir cap? It could be bad. Also, you need to figure out where the coolant was leaking from. Coolant hoses, coolant reservoir (they crack on the bottom side), etc.

If the temp needle is dropping off the scale, it is likely a bad cluster. If that is the case, the car could OVERHEAT and you not know it. How old is the water pump? How old is the thermostat?

It may have a OBD2 port that you can connect a tool and watch the actual temperature.