Ford cougar temperature gauge always in the red?

Answer 1

You could have several problems - the minor ones would be a problem with the cooling system, flow from the radiator to the engine - check this by taking the cap off when the engine is cool and squeezing the hose that connects between the radiator and the engine - the fluid should move up and down as the hose is squeezed. If that isn't the problem the next thing would to remove the thermostat and check it. This is done by simply making sure it's in the closed position and putting it in hot or near boiling water - this should cause the thermostat to open. If it doesn't (which is my guess for what could be wrong) - then your thermostat is bad. another way to check if its the temperature gauge is to begin driving the car and as SOON as it gets hot - turn the heat on full blast in the car. If this causes the gauge in the car to go down then its definitely your thermostat...

good luck.

OR.... It could be something very simple, as in my case. . . if you've checked all the obvious things (see suggestions above), it may just need a good BOP on the dashboard above the temperature gauge, like mine did. My temperature gauge started to suddenly read HOT, the needle used to suddenly raise to the red area, and sometimes it would be in the cold position... out of frustration, I just bopped the dashboard and the needle went right back to the correct position, thereby telling me, it was a faulty gauge.

Try it out and see. . . Thanks Tony

Brick, NJ