Temp.

Asked by Tiffany Jul 17, 2016 at 06:19 PM about the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT Sedan FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My temperature gauge in my car is not working at
all it just stays on cold my car and then shut the AC
off automatically because it said the engine was
overheating and my check engine light was on
what could the problem possibly be I checked my
coolant is full I checked all my other fluids in my
car and everything checked out fine

42 Answers

860

My cruze is doing all those exact same things, what did it end up being?!?!?!

86 people found this helpful.
490

mine does same thing i have changed the sensor bleed my radiator and nothing is fixing it, it warms up but as soon as i drive right back to c it goes, i have had it hooked up everything is working fine in the car all of the parts engine thermostat water pump all of it theres no engineight nothing throwing off a code so idk what it is but im tired of driving in a cold car in the winter

46 people found this helpful.
530

Same here this sucks Im about done with my 2015 Cruze! A/C off due to blah blah blah my car is not overheating Chevy should be sick of the complaints by now!!

40 people found this helpful.
1,380

The problem on my 2012 Chevy Cruze turned out to be the 2nd temperature sensor located on the passenger side of the radiator. If this sensor isn't working, the engine will overheat and the temperature gauge won't work. the sensor can be bought at O'Reily's for $13.00 and it is o.e.m. AC Delco. It's a little difficult to change because of where it is located, but it can be done without draining the cooling system, and is held in position by a spring clip, just be careful with the connector. I also disconnected the negative terminal of the battery at the same time, which may have helped reset the computer.

85 people found this helpful.
570

My 2012 chevy Cruze says a/c shut off due 2 over heating my temperature gauge stays on cold and my fan in engine seems louder than normal. I just had a new sensor put in. This is very frustrating.

57 people found this helpful.
1,380

read my solution above. Your problem is probably caused by a defective 2nd temperature sensor located on the passenger side of the radiator (about half-way up). You need to change this sensor as it works in conjunction with the main sensor located by the thermostat. Disconnect the battery while you change the sensor. This procedure will solve your problem.

35 people found this helpful.
690

I have the same problem. I have changed both sensors, Bled the radiator, changed the coolant hoses, reset the engine, I’ve done it all and it still says A/C off due to engine overheating!!! What is the problem with these Chevy’s????

69 people found this helpful.
500

I have changed both temperature sensors and almost every time i drive about 10 mins in my AC goes off due to overheating. We can fix it by disconnecting the negative battery terminal but then it happens all over. Any suggestions after fixing both sensors as to why it’s doing this?

38 people found this helpful.
1,380

you may have another sensor that is not working. Have you plugged a diagnostic reader in to see if there are any trouble codes? You may also want to erase any codes that are currently in there to see if they come back. You will need a more sophisticated diagnostic reader than the one you get at Wal Mart because sometimes there are sub-codes that won't show up on a consumer quality one.

11 people found this helpful.
230

I have a 2011 chevy cruze 1.4 turbo and im yaving problems with the a/c it turns off and the temperature gauge wont work anymore

23 people found this helpful.
320

My chevy cruze 2012 LT 1.4 turbo. The gage shows its normal but when i look up in menu temputure goes up to 235 goes down to 200 and the moter feels verry hot and the coolent starts to gargoling what is it

32 people found this helpful.
200

Same problem with mine, put a new thermostat and both coolant sensors in and it was good for about 3 months and started again. I read one comment saying to unplug the positive on the battery to reset the computer, did that and its fine now.

20 people found this helpful.
150

I changed both sensor and the thermostat housing and it's still saying ac off due to hot engine when I start it up

15 people found this helpful.
250

I’ve done everything on my 2012 Chevy Cruze it has 25k miles I flushed radiator changed sensors twice Changed thermostat housing changed water pump twice. And got all new hoses I have 3 different mechanics that looked at it and now All are saying that Cruze has a lot of lemons and this issue is more likely in unfixable and to sell the car And this car only has 25k miles on it I’m selling it to CarMax never will I buy a Cruze went from love to hate and this problem is a epidemic

25 people found this helpful.
200

My 2012 is doing the same I love my car so I'm being having real patience.....the temp gauge will stop working and ac will stop do to high temps......so far I just unplug the negitive battery terminal and it resets code works for a couple months then it starts again....

20 people found this helpful.
90

So I would recommend changing both sensors and the thermostat. But there is a service bulletin about replacing the negative battery cable on 2001 to 2015 chevy Cruze which could also be factoring in the problems. But I would definitely change those just as a CYA so you don't destroy your engine

9 people found this helpful.
20

Just add coolant! Guarantee you you're running real low.

2 people found this helpful.
150

It will be the water outlet. The cruze has 3 sensors. Water outlet, thermostat and on the right hand side of the radiator there is another coolant sensor.

15 people found this helpful.
130

Hello guys, i have a 2015 chevrolet cruze 1.4L T. It overheated and burnt the head gasket because of the water pump dameged, so i changed and i replaced the burnt gasket and rectified the head. After that everthing was fine during a month, the engine working normaly but sundelly when i opened the engine oil lid it was mixing water and oil again in the engine. so i loosed the water cooler and replaced the O´rings. changed the oil. I drived a weak but later i had the same problem once again, water in the engine. so please anyone idea ill be gratefull.

11 people found this helpful.
140

I'm having the exact same thing going on with my 2012 Chev Orlando. 2.4 litre Ecotec. Check engine light on, Temp guage stays pegged on the cold side, rad fan running at high speed and no ac. I'll see about replacing the temp sensor. Fingers crossed

14 people found this helpful.
320

Did anyone find a resolution, ive change both temperature sensors and it still says ac off high engine temp and the car isn’t running hot but when I remove the negative cable it works fine . If the car isn’t fully warm & I pull of in the morning that’s when it does it ! I need HELP

21 people found this helpful.
180

I am having a problem with my 2014 chevy cruze it was doing all the same things as people listed above. I changed both sensors, change thermostat now i cant get the damn thermostat to open. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

18 people found this helpful.
70

same is happening with me, started out with a bad Thermostat, no heat in car. Changed the thermostat and the temp gauge is in the middle and have heat. Two days later got the AC OF DUE TO HIGH TEMP. Replaced bother sensor and disconnected the battery cable. Two days later still have the AC OF DUE TO HIGH TEMP. HELP!

7 people found this helpful.
320

I had already replaced my water pump months before so I replaced both temp sensors and the thermostat close to the water pump , and the issue is now fixed

11 people found this helpful.
60

I own a Chevrolet Orlando 2015. The engine check light is always on. I had the thermostat changed, the radiator changed, the coolant container changed, change the o-ring, change the cam and all of those did not work. I finally decided to overhaul it but guess, the engine check light is still on. Even the guys from Chevrolet where I bought it 5 years ago admitted that many have experienced this problem. They gave me a funny advice, sell it and your problem will be gone.

6 people found this helpful.
320

Guys I got the same problem on my 2015 chevy cruze but was able to figure out what's wrong with it hope it help somebody please read the entire article. My problem was Temp Guage not working then AC of due to high temp. I Replace the thermostat and both temp sensors still have the same problem. I replaced both temp sted. Then i step back and think about it. I diagnosed all 4 new temp sensor just out of curiosity then i noticed the pin inside the sensor that insert to the plug are all bent out and pushed back. The temp sensor is cheap for a reason its peace of shit. Anyway I got a new sensors and align it properly with the wire then connect them 1st before I place the sensors where they belong. It works perfectly after that. Problem is the pin inside the temp sensor too soft and bend easily if wire is slightly miss aligned while pushing temp sensor is no good anymore even its new. might be new but no connection means no sensor. This fix my problem

32 people found this helpful.
70

I have the same issues as other (a/c shut off due to high engine temp temp gauge stuck in cold) I have a few differences though. My engine light never came and the car was driving normal. I stopped at a conference workers house while driving home when it happened shut the car off checked it out didn't seem to be anything wrong and car started up fine I finished my drive home and only notice the temp gauge go from 1/4 to between 1/4 and 1/2 that was with the heat cranked up air off. Drove again little while later after it cooled down all the way this time with the ac cranked up car ran at 1/2 on temp gauge but never got the "ac off due to high engine temp" any suggestions? About to go get the sensor that goes in the radiator

7 people found this helpful.
40

Exact same issue with a 2014 Cruze. Disconnected and cleaned the negative battery cable. reconnected. Works fine for now.

4 people found this helpful.
80

We had this problem on my son's 2016 Chevy Cruze. The temperature gauge didn't work and and the radiator fan was spinning full speed. Replaced the temperature sensor on the passenger side ($12 at Advance Auto Parts), cleared the codes using my ODBII tool, and it fixed the problem. When you change the sensor, you're going to have some coolant leak out, so be ready to catch it and try to change the sensor quickly.

8 people found this helpful.
190

They are all junk and chevy should take them back or get sued, tired of fixing daughters cruze Because she can't afford in shop every 2 weeks. No one has a real fix fffff

19 people found this helpful.
70

Same problem with gauge. Starts at cold, warms up almost to half way like normal then goes to cold and message comes up. Changed two sensors, cleared codes, and did same thing. I left my cheap OBDII Bluetooth plugged in and erased faults while driving and fans turned off, gauge went back to normal position and a.c. worked for rest of 40 mile drive with no more messages. Will leave OBDII plugged in for the next few days and repeat if necessary.

5 people found this helpful.
30

I have the same problem over and over again. every I have this problem. Never buy a chevy.

3 people found this helpful.
70

There is 3 temperature sensor, correct?

7 people found this helpful.
70

There are two temperature sensors. Start with the one closest to your water outlet. If that doesn't fix it, replace the 2nd temperature sensor located near the radiator. If that doesn't fix it, it's your thermostat. Your car is constantly running low temp bc the thermostat is stuck open causing coolant ro flow constantly. It's lrolly your thermostat.

7 people found this helpful.
70

Just changed my thermostat a week ago and that took care of the problem. Replaced the two sensors before that and that did not help. For the month before changing the thermostat I had a Bluetooth OBDII reader plugged in and as soon as the message popped up I would clear the fault, usually P1101, with my phone and the OBDII reader and it would be fine the rest of the drive.

2 people found this helpful.
50

I started by taking my thermostat out and was shocked to find that the two plastic tabs that holds the spring retainer had broken off and the spring was just laying there. Put a new thermostat in and it seems to have fixed my problem. Car seems to be heating up and heater is blasting hot air. I feel like i got lucky, hope this helps someone else

5 people found this helpful.
20

Well I am also having issues but was under impression that it was two different sensors is this the case? When I went to advance auto they are saying it’s the same

2 people found this helpful.
60

I have replaced water pump twice, thermostate 4x in 8 months, sensors, and every 3 months car steal has problems. Says AC being turned off due to engine hot, and I am losing coolant . i am at my wits end.

6 people found this helpful.
20

Have you checked the wiring to these sensors? Sensor could be good faulty wiring youre back at the beginning of replacing the sensors

2 people found this helpful.
30

It’s due to the hoses and temp sensors. Common problem with cruzes. Had mine completely replaced for $700. Two years and it’s overheating after 5 minutes, leaking fluid, steaming. Get rid of it. The head gasket is going to break, windows, buttons. My mechanic told me I need a whole new engine, the car only had 102,000. So I traded it in. I see cruzes driving, and I look and say “get rid of it”.

3 people found this helpful.

After you change the sensors, you have to unplug the battery cable and plug it back up for anybody who might want to try that

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