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What does it mean if the temperature gauge is rising but my car’s not overheating?
Can you give me some advice? The temperature gauge in my car is rising, but the car’s not overheating as far as I can tell. It’s hot when I open the hood, but it’s always hot after driving a little while. So what does it mean when the temperature gauge is rising but the car’s not overheating?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yikes, we’re glad you noticed this issue before it became a serious one! There are a lot of potential problems here that can cause the temperature gauge to spike, despite the car not overheating.
Let’s start with some of the less critical issues that are generally cheaper to fix than the more dire problems:
- Low coolant level
- The front grille has an obstruction (debris, mud, etc.)
- Faulty temperature gauge or sensor
- Wrong coolant or mixed coolant types
- Leaky or damaged hoses
And now let’s look at some of the more serious (and usually more costly) issues that can cause this:
- Damaged thermostat
- Bad water pump
- Radiator fan needs replacing
- Damaged or blown head gasket
If you take your car to a mechanic, they’ll likely investigate most or all of these issues before determining what’s causing the temperature gauge to rise.
We can’t really diagnose your car’s temperature-related issues without seeing your car in person. But we can help you save hundreds of dollars per year or more on
car insurance
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MORE: Antifreeze vs. coolant: what’s the difference?
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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