Temp. gauge very low and no heat - Cars & Trucks

First check the coolant level. May be low. If not check your thermostat. Could be stuck open in which case will let the vehicle run cooler.

I would bet the check engine light is on as well?

Low temp gauge and the lack of heat is typically the result of a bad thermostat. I would also bet that you fuel economy has nose dived as well. A new thermostat should get the engine running at the correct temp and restore the heat to the passenger compartment.

Year/make/model/engine size???? no heat is usually the result of low coolant/inoperatrive blend door/plugged heater core. Temp guage not working is usually a bad sensor/no power to sensor/poor ground/defective temp gauge itself

If it is a manual system--sounds like coolant low ie: air bubble in system. If it is ATC system, Check Codes, if no failure codes, coolant may be low--air bubble in system--most Durango's have air bleeders in system.

use a termo laser to check temp of coolant at filler cap ,with cap off run vehicle till you have hot heat coming out of your heater then check with laser. if it reads above 140 then you know 2 things . either the therm sensor is going bad or the temp gauge is bad , make sure the radiator fans come on ,if they do and you have good heat then you have bad gauge.

maybe you are very low on coolant fluids

Is the engine actually over heating or just the gauge giving incorrect readings?? The stepper motor in the console's temp gauge could be defective. Have someone with a laser heat gun check the temp of the engine around the thermostat to find the correct temp.

your thermostat might be stuck open so while idle it can warm up but as soon as the motor increases speed it cools down quick

Is your gauge just showing a low temperature? i can guarantee your engine is getting hot. If your gauge is showing low temp you may just have a bad temp sensor.

1st check the coolant level. Low level will cause a no heat situation as you describe. What does the engine temp. gauge indicate? Is it indicating on the low side of normal, or is it in the normal range? If it indicates a low operating temp. after car warm up, the thermostat may be stuck open, which would not allow the car to fully warm up, and again, result in the no heat condition. Let me know about checking the coolant level, and temp gauge info. Curt