2019 CR-V Temp Gauge Not Operating Correctly

How is your coolant level?

cpechoice said:

after driving 2019 CR-V for 20 minutes, and engine is at operating temperature, temperature gauge went to zero, then gauge started moving up and down. anybody having similar problem? What's the cause and how to correct?

Dealer, Brown's Honda City, Glen Burnie MD is clueless to solve

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This is normal. The temp gauge on your V does not monitor temps between 0-boiling. It monitors what is classified for this vehicle as a normal temp range while the motor is running. Therefore, it will fluctuate commonly, depending on factors while it is running. For example, if you come to a stop (like at a traffic light) after reaching normal operating temp, the gauge will likely drop. Once you get moving again, it will climb back up. Totally normal. The gauge will fluctuate more in cooler environments than in warm ones.

I find that running the heater will drop the gauge reading as well. Totally normal.

Cool

mickyg1982 said:

How is your coolant level?
[coolant level is full]

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SnakeCharmer said:

This is normal. The temp gauge on your V does not monitor temps between 0-boiling. It monitors what is classified for this vehicle as a normal temp range while the motor is running. Therefore, it will fluctuate commonly, depending on factors while it is running. For example, if you come to a stop (like at a traffic light) after reaching normal operating temp, the gauge will likely drop. Once you get moving again, it will climb back up. Totally normal. The gauge will fluctuate more in cooler environments than in warm ones.

I find that running the heater will drop the gauge reading as well. Totally normal.

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Dealer, Brown's Honda City, Glen Burnie Maryland, initially said that American Honda Motor Company was working on a software fix. But then Drew Greenway (410-553-8656) Asst. Service Manager at Brown's Honda City, Glen Burnie Maryland messaged me back saying "No [software] updates at this time from Honda. we [Brown's City Honda, Glen Burnie Maryland] wouldn't be notified if there is one. You [the customer] would most likely get a letter from Honda when there is an actual fix for this." (end of quote). I thought it strange that a Honda dealer would say that American Honda Motor Company would not communicate with their own dealer.

Running the heater in virtually any water cooled vehicle will lower coolant temp, especially in cold weather. Not sure what "not monitoring temps between 0-boiling" means.

In cold weather, the Gen 5 CRV 1.5L needle seems to fluctuate (monitor coolant temp changes) frequently when actual coolant temp is between 130F (needle begins to appear) and 160F (needle stops moving). The heater core removes more/less heat from the engine coolant, depending on hvac temp setting and blower/fan speed.

cpechoice said:

after driving 2019 CR-V for 20 minutes, and engine is at operating temperature, temperature gauge went to zero, then gauge started moving up and down. anybody having similar problem? What's the cause and how to correct?

Dealer, Brown's Honda City, Glen Burnie MD is clueless to solve

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I can tell you that I don't see any behavior like that, the gauge is relatively stable when warmed up, on days when the temps are in the 20's or 30's in the morning. '19 CR-V 1.5 liter. It seems they ought to at least change the sending unit and see if it resolves. The red needle never disappears after warmup, if that's what you mean by zero.

crv383 said:

Not sure what "not monitoring temps between 0-boiling" means.

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In the 1960s, for example, car temp gauges read from ice cold to overheating. That's what I meant. Things have changed a lot, especially during the last decade.

My 2009 Nissan Frontier's temp gauge never moved more than 1 millimeter after it was warmed up, regardless of the inside/outside temp, or if I was running the A/C or heater. This is what many, if not most of us, are used to seeing in a car's temp gauge. This new "running temp range" type gauge stuff is funky. They should go back the old school. It was tried and true. There has been so many changes in the last decade that I basically have to learn about cars all over again and I consider myself to be a hands-on, experienced car guy. ...Not any more!!!

SnakeCharmer said:

In the 1960s, for example, car temp gauges read from ice cold to overheating. That's what I meant. Things have changed a lot, especially during the last decade.

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Been driving since the ‘60s.....never seen a factory temp gauge (with numbers) display below 100F. I’m guessing most factory temp gauges with “C” and “H”, the needle doesn’t move until coolant temp reaches about 100F. Most aftermarket temp gauges start displaying at 100F, not zero.

The Gen 5 1.5L factorygauge is somewhat different, however.......it 1st displays at 130F coolant temp and stops moving at 160F. I’ve observed 215F actual coolant temp, yet the factory needle hasn’t budged from the middle position.

crv383 said:

Been driving since the ‘60s.....never seen a factory temp gauge (with numbers) display below 100F. I’m guessing most factory temp gauges with “C” and “H”, the needle doesn’t move until coolant temp reaches about 100F. Most aftermarket temp gauges start displaying at 100F, not zero.

The Gen 5 1.5L factorygauge is somewhat different, however.......it 1st displays at 130F coolant temp and stops moving at 160F. I’ve observed 215F actual coolant temp, yet the factory needle hasn’t budged from the middle position.

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In this case, 0=100. You know what I meant.

The point is, the V's temp gauge is ODD and it's clearly troubling the owners.

Not trying to nit pick but, if the needle is on "100F", or "C", or not displaying at all, coolant temp is simply not high enough to be within the min/max measurement parameters set by the gauge manufacturer. Normal coolant temps can reach well past boiling, depending on the cooling system pressure. If coolant boils, the motor is overheating.

I wonder if the 1.5L heater core is comparatively larger when compared to other engine displacements/heater cores? In other words, do the 2.4L and 1.5L use the same heater core. If they do, I could see (on a percentage basis) more heat being removed from the 1.5L.?‍♂