2004 Kia Optima Temperature gauge goes into red

[vahitter]

i have a 04 kia optima, temp gauge in the red but car is not running hot. put in new temp sensor, gauge still in red

[TerryAuto]

Is the temperature gauge in the red as soon as you start the car, or does it just keep rising as the engine is getting hotter?

[vahitter]

gauge keeps rising as the engine gets hotter, and sometimes heater blows cold air

[vahitter]

[quote="TerryAuto"]Is the temperature gauge in the red as soon as you start the car, or does it just keep rising as the engine is getting hotter?[/quote]

it keeps rising as engine gets hotter.

[TerryAuto]

OK, then your engine may actually be overheating.
The gauge seems to be working correctly. The key to your problem is that the heater blows cold air sometimes. This is caused by an air pocket in the cooling system. The heater core cannot transfer heat into the car from coolant with air pockets.

Air pockets can be caused by low coolant level, the system was not properly bled after a repair that caused coolant to be lost, or a blown headgasket.

Sounds like you have the last problem of a blown headgasket, since this started before any work was done.

[malik125]

OK, then your engine may actually be overheating.
The gauge seems to be working correctly. The key to your problem is that the heater blows cold air sometimes. This is caused by an air pocket in the cooling system. The heater core cannot transfer heat into the car from coolant with air pockets.