My 98 Catera has gone through the well known issues with the Oil Cooler leaking in to the coolant. So I have replaced the Oil Cooler, Water Crossover, Radiator, All Rubber Hoses, Thermostat, Engine Coolant Sensor for the Gauge, and the washers for the Bolts that hold down the Crossover and the Oil Cooler. The problem I'm having is that my Temp Gauge on the dashboard is always showing completely cold, the needle is slammed down.... I've done a resistance check on the sensor and it shows an ohms reading that isnt within specs for the temp that it was at. I also did a continuity and resistance check on the wires between the sensor and it splice point and between the splice point and the dash with correct readings. Any suggestions?????

My 98 Catera has gone through the well known issues with the Oil Cooler leaking in to the coolant. So I have replaced the Oil Cooler, Water Crossover, Radiator, All Rubber Hoses, Thermostat, Engine Coolant Sensor for the Gauge, and the washers for the Bolts that hold down the Crossover and the Oil Cooler. The problem I'm having is that my Temp Gauge on the dashboard is always showing completely cold, the needle is slammed down.... I've done a resistance check on the sensor and it shows an ohms reading that isnt within specs for the temp that it was at. I also did a continuity and resistance check on the wires between the sensor and it splice point and between the splice point and the dash with correct readings. Any suggestions?????

You replaced the coolant temperature sensor or the coolant level sensor?

Otherwise id try installing a makeshift coolant temp sensor and a makeshift coolant temperature gauge and see if you get a reading. You should have somewhere specifications for what ohms at what temps it should be reading. Its either the gauge or the sensor in this case. If you did the test when the car was cold i bet it was not the sensors fault (could read under spec when cold) but the gauge. If you did this when the car was driven then id say its the sensors. See what you get though with a makeshift setup'. Do you have the old coolant temperature sensor? Try that as well.