Check the wire to the sensor and be sure it is hooked up. If so remove it from the sending unit. Turn the ignition and have someone watch the gauge while you ground it to the engine. If it moves the sender is bad.
An inoperative temperature gauge will not alter how an engine runs, but the operator will not know if the water temperature has risen above normal without a properly working guage.
Low Coolant? Weak Temerature sensor? Weak gauge Gauge working properly and recording the thermostat opening and closing as engine temperature fluctuates
engine coolant
Your engine coolant temperature gauge has a sensor ( there is also a engine coolant temperature sensor that is used for the computer / PCM )
Possible causes of gauge not working. Faulty gauge Blown fuse. Open circuit in wiring to the gauge. Temprature transmitter in engine faulty. ( most probably the actual fault ) Lack of coolant in the engine.
Could be a failed engine coolant temperature sensor. Easy enough to replace and not too expensive.
Coolant Temperature Sensor
The engine coolant temperature sensor and coolant temperature gauge sender are located on the passenger's side of the engine, under the intake manifold.
seriously? it tells you what temperature you engine coolant/antifreeze is. that is how your gauge on the dash knows what your temperature is at.
It is possible that the temperature gauge has stopped working in a 1992 Tempo due to a blown fuse. It is also possible that the temperature gauge stopped working do to the temperature sensor in the engine having a short.
This is called the Temperature light or gauge
The 1995 Lincoln Town Car coolant temperature gauge sensor can be found on the front of the engine. The coolant temperature sensor will be a few inches above the thermostat housing.