Our 2003 Outback occasionally says it's running hot - between 3/4 and red on the gauge. As far as I can tell, the coolant is circulating OK and we are not losing coolant, so i figure the sensor itself is bad.

 

I have a multimeter but don't know the actual procedure or what to look for. Can anyone help me get started?

 

Also...just in case...any tricks for ensuring that there are no air bubbles trapped in the system on this model?

Use your multimeter to do an OHMs resistance test. Set the multimeter to the horse shoe shaped OHMs setting. Then put the red probe on the sensor where it plugs into the wire and ground the black probe. Match the value listed on your meter to value provided by service manual or other source.

 

When filling up the radiator I use the lower hose as a pump. Forcing the air to the top and sucking coolant down. There should also be a bleeder valve on top of the radiator. To use this turn the engine on and let it start to warm up. Crack that bleeder open and wait for it to spew all the air out. If you go slow enough and are pacient to let all air bubles work their way up you really dont need the bleeder. Next time you have ran her up to full temp let her cool down a bit and check coolant level again. Any bubles trapped in the engine itself should have made their way to the radiator by then so you can top it off.

actually, I was hoping you could provide me with those values. I don't have any books for this car...too new for Haynes, I guess. Any place on the web I can pull those?

 

and thanks for the quick reply

 

 

Use your multimeter to do an OHMs resistance test. Set the multimeter to the horse shoe shaped OHMs setting. Then put the red probe on the sensor where it plugs into the wire and ground the black probe. Match the value listed on your meter to value provided by service manual or other source.

 

When filling up the radiator I use the lower hose as a pump. Forcing the air to the top and sucking coolant down. There should also be a bleeder valve on top of the radiator. To use this turn the engine on and let it start to warm up. Crack that bleeder open and wait for it to spew all the air out. If you go slow enough and are pacient to let all air bubles work their way up you really dont need the bleeder. Next time you have ran her up to full temp let her cool down a bit and check coolant level again. Any bubles trapped in the engine itself should have made their way to the radiator by then so you can top it off.

Call up a dealership, ask for Service department and make a tech look it up for ya!