[mark]

Our 2008 xB temperature gauge has been acting up. My wife noticed this Friday, and I saw it on Saturday during a short test drive. Basically, the temperature reading spikes and returns to normal.

My wife reported seeing this Friday, and topped off the coolant when she got home. In my test drive, Saturday, it went from a cold start to near pegged after a 2 mile drive at 30 MPH. I stopped the car, waited for about a minute, then started up, again. The temperature gauge when back to normal and I drove home without any issues.

At no time did the car act 'hot'. No temperature warning lights lit up.

Any idea what this is? The fact the gauge returned to normal after I turned the electrical system off suggests to me an electrical issue.

mark

 

[mark]

Any idea what this is?

I've done some searching and come across two issues. First, there seems to be a 'Toyota' coolant (pink) and we added green. Second, there are some reports that it is hard to get air out of the system. Thus, if the coolant had gotten low, the spikes could be air in the system.

Just guessing.

 

[Chris-Garage]

bleed your system might help

 

[mark]

Added fluid about a pint of coolant and started the car, letting it warm up to normal. At this point, I drove down the hill. When I started accelerating, temp almost pegged within 100 yards. I turned the car off for a minute, then started, again. Almost immediately after hitting the accelerator, the temp when up. I stopped, again. Waited a minute and started a third time. The car started and drove fine for the next 15 minutes.

When I got home, the coolant level was at the same level it was prior to me adding a about a pint of coolant.

 

[Damaged]

Buddy of mine with a dodge had the same issue. He had to replace a garbage thermostat.
Not sure how much if any of that info transfers to our/your B

 

[mark]

I topped the reservoir off, again and took a 10 minute drive. No problems, this time.

 

[BrickPig]

Buddy of mine with a dodge had the same issue. He had to replace a garbage thermostat.

I agree. It sounds like a sticking thermostat. You may want to replace it.

 

[box monkey]

Might want to replace that thermostat just in case. It never hurts and it's less than 10 bucks and shouldn't take more than half an hr. It wouldn't hurt.


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[khemistry]

I hate to start a new thread and apologize if I'm jacking this up.

2nd Gen 2013 literally 847km, I notice this week that usually when I first start the car in the morning the green lit temp symbol should be on indicating in an obvious reason that the engine is still cold. This week when I start the car for the first time in the morning the temp green symbol light takes a minute or so to lit up.

Should I be concern?

Note: I'm in Toronto Canada which weather is getting below 0 at this time of the year.

 

[BrickPig]

I hate to start a new thread and apologize if I'm jacking this up.

2nd Gen 2013 literally 847km, I notice this week that usually when I first start the car in the morning the green lit temp symbol should be on indicating in an obvious reason that the engine is still cold. This week when I start the car for the first time in the morning the temp green symbol light takes a minute or so to lit up.

Should I be concern?

Note: I'm in Toronto Canada which weather is getting below 0 at this time of the year.

(Note to newbies: 2008-2010 have real temp gauges, 2011-present have idiot lights...)

I think what you are saying is usually in the mornings when you first start up, the green coolant temp light is lit until the engine warms up, then when the engine warms the light turns off. Except that recently, even though it is now getting colder in Canada, it now takes a minute or so for the "coolant is cold" light to light up after startup.

Something is definitely not right. My 2011 faithfully lights the "coolant is cold" light on cold mornings at startup. Your 2013 is still under warranty so I'd get it checked out.

 

[MathXB]

On really cold days (-10C and lower), my "idiot light" takes 15 to 45 seconds to light up!

 

[gs_aristo]

FYI According to my scan gauge the "idiot" light goes off on the 2011+ is at 130F.

 

[Yayo_87]

This could be 4 things. A faulty thermostat, a faulty instrument cluster, a faulty temperature sensor, or air bubbles in the system. Im ruling out the air bubbles because they should dissipated by now due to your tests drives. Im ruling out the thermostat because you mentioned that you test drove it for 2 minutes from a cold start and it pegged hot. Unless you were mashing the throttle, I cant seem to see how you would reach operating temperature in that short amount of time with current temperatures. Ive seen faulty temperature sensors cause the needles to act up. Ive also seen faulty instrument clusters cause the issue due to the potentiometers going bad. I may be wrong but hope it helps. Let us know when you fix it. Good luck.

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[khemistry]

(Note to newbies: 2008-2010 have real temp gauges, 2011-present have idiot lights...)

I think what you are saying is usually in the mornings when you first start up, the green coolant temp light is lit until the engine warms up, then when the engine warms the light turns off. Except that recently, even though it is now getting colder in Canada, it now takes a minute or so for the "coolant is cold" light to light up after startup.

Something is definitely not right. My 2011 faithfully lights the "coolant is cold" light on cold mornings at startup. Your 2013 is still under warranty so I'd get it checked out.

Exactly and thank you. When I first acquired the vehicle the idiot temp is lit on. But recently this week when I start the car the idiot light takes 30 to 45 secs to go off. I called Toyota they said that is normal but I'm still skeptical about it. A buddy of mine drives a 2nd gen told me his idiot temp went off after 30 secs on start up.

 

[gs_aristo]

Exactly and thank you. When I first acquired the vehicle the idiot temp is lit on. But recently this week when I start the car the idiot light takes 30 to 45 secs to go off. I called Toyota they said that is normal but I'm still skeptical about it. A buddy of mine drives a 2nd gen told me his idiot temp went off after 30 secs on start up.

That is normal. I'm sure up where you live is colder than Texas so yes it may take a bit longer for your light to go off. Only real way to tell is to hook up a OBD2 gauge and monitor it.

 

[khemistry]

Thanks, heres a video


Scion XB Temp Light 2013 - YouTube

 

[Slorocket]

Looks pretty normal to me. . Mine will even take a min or two to come on and many more to go off. When I first saw that light on my 11 I looked it up. When I saw it was a cold coolant light, I thought yeh no sh!t. My 08 didnt have it so was just another light on the ole christmas tree. So idiot light it is... My guess is it was added to discourage people in start n go's and to make ya think twice and let some oil run through the motor first. Common sense aint so common.

 

[khemistry]

thanks Slorocket, yah the temp is really dropping here. Was surprised with the delayed reaction of the idiot light to go off after start up.

 

[Slorocket]

Yeh no problemo. Toyota definately coulda spent that money elswhere on the car.