2002 EV VR6 First motor problem, temperature gauge

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Im getting a slight weird behaviour in my temp gauge - it stays low for a long time, but then suddenly shoots up, then goes back down to low, then hits mid point and stays there.

Obvious trouble spots are thermostat and temp sender. The engine does seem to warm as before, based on monitoring the hose temperatures and heat output so it could be either.

Im going to hook up my AUTEL and see if I can record the coolant temp from OBD - of course, I think I am just using the same sensor so I suspect I will see the same behavior in digital form.

Any guidance from VR6 land?

First owner
90k miles
Best car I have ever owned.
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.ssS!

[gakali]

Is the CTS the "newish" green one? For what they are worth and with their proven unreliability I'd throw one at it especially if it's not green.
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Why do it? Because you can.

1999 Eurovan
2003 A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro
1992 W201 190e 2.3 Mercedes
2006 W220 S600 V12 Twin Turbo 5.5 Mercedes

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Yeah it's 10 bucks at FCP

On order.

Thanks!
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.ssS!

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Had a peek at the CTS job while the Beef Wellington was in the oven. On the VR6, you are doing this job from underneath with the pan dropped. You can't even see the pipe from up top.

My 2003 Beetle needed the exact same sender replaced, btw.
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.ssS!

[gakali]