2002 Volvo S60 AWD: Temperature Guage Issue

rmalviya · Post by **rmalviya** » 10 Sep 2009, 18:38

I recently purchased a 2002 S60 AWD. 37,500 miles. Fantastic car. I noticed that when I am operating the car on the highway, the temperature guage reads at approximately the halfway point. No problem as the manual says this should be the case when operating the car. However, when city driving or in stop and go traffic, the temperature guage reads just past the halfway point. This made me uncomfortable as I don't want the car to overheat. Being proactive, I took the car in for scheduled maintenance and had the Volvo dealer review the temperature issue. The dealer said it wasn't an issue and no problems with the anti-freeze, thermostat, radiator, etc. Instead, the dealer updated the software on the car for the cooling fan, which would essentially direct it to turn on the fan bit quicker than usual. I drove the car home from the dealer and this didn't resolve the issue. The temperature guage still goes just beyond the halfway mark. Is this normal for an S60? Do others notice this when they drive? Is there anything else that may be causing the car to run at such a high temperature? The guage where it is makes me nervous as I'm always thinking it will creep closer and closer to the red. I wish it would stay just before the halfway point at all times--like all other cars I've ever been in! Any advice would be much appreciated!

Post by **JRL** » 10 Sep 2009, 20:48

Not normal, it shouldn't budge when warmed up
Try a new thermostat

rmalviya · Post by **rmalviya** » 11 Sep 2009, 19:29

OK, I took my car to another qualified Volvo mechanic in town. I had some luck getting the issue explained to me. The temperature needle on the instrument cluster reads at just past the halfway point once the car is operating. The needle stays at that point, regardless of weather outside, stop and go traffic, or driving on the highway. I was mistaken earlier as it didn't really fluctuate, but just reach just a tad beyond the halfway point. Thus, the problem is not with the thermostat. I reviewed a diagram that the mechanic showed me and the only thing he could think of was an incorrect reading caused by the engine temperature sensor (which is housed on the thermostat) being off or the temperature instrument cluster on the dash being off. The mechanic said that even though the needle was a tad beyond the half way point, the engine temp was normal and the temperature needle wasn't fluctuating meaning not a thermostat, coolant, or cooling fan issue. Also, he mentioned that Volvo's temperature guage on the dash is merely a general reading of the engine temperature, and its not entirely accurate. It's supposed to be within 20% accuracy. Some Volvo's operate with the needle just below halfway point, and these are still operating at the same temperature as mine. The mechanic said that if this non issue really bugged me to the point where I needed to see the needle not going beyond the halfway point, he could replace the wiring, temperature guage cluster, and engine temp sensor to have the needle read more accurately. I didn't think it was necessary--$500+ bill.