I never trusted my temp gauge. I got a scanner that reads the temp the PCM is seeing. My gauge stayed right in the middle or slightly above half before the first fan came on at 226. At 226, the gauge read right at half, which is approx. 210 by the way the gauge is ranged. I replaced the sender for the gauge and it made a difference, but it still reads off. Best thing for the factory gauge is to get a scanner, see what the PCM is seeing and compare that to the gauge. Then at least you have a reference point. Mine is about 15-20 degrees off.

 

Thanks jkeaton, I'll have to put that on my list.

 

Why on earth they would separate the two systems is beyond me. Hence the comment about the factory gauge being nothing but a fancy dummy light. It does nothing. Just a reference. Common sense would dictate running one sensor for both the PCM and the gauge, but thats just me.