Is this temperature reading normal?

[englisharcher]

I have a 96 Mk3 Astra 1.6, this reading is as high as the temperature gauge ever gets.

But it looks very low to me, is this normal for this model?

[Zerotonine]

My old one used to sit happily there, it is around 90 which is fine.

[C.A.R.]

Lots of cars have a certain 'dead area' around the middle of their temperature gauge, so the reading is never true.

This is particularly noticeable in the MK1 Mazda MX5 (a PH favourite) and is due to the series of resistors in the circuit for the gauge. It will only begin to move beyond the middle temperature once it has fallen outside the normal 'parameters'.

It's probably fine, but then being a Vauxhall it is very possible that it's broken...

[ajb85]

Looks A-ok to me. You're going to need some fuel at some point, though.

[NiceCupOfTea]

C.A.R. said:

Lots of cars have a certain 'dead area' around the middle of their temperature gauge, so the reading is never true.

This is particularly noticeable in the MK1 Mazda MX5 (a PH favourite) and is due to the series of resistors in the circuit for the gauge. It will only begin to move beyond the middle temperature once it has fallen outside the normal 'parameters'.

Indeed - I fitted an electric temp guage with a sender in the top hose for that very reason! Sitting in traffic on a hot day with the fan kicking in and out you could see the temp going between 90 and 100 - stock guage just sat in the middle. Only twice it went higher: once was when a heater hose ruptured, second time was when the radiator was clogged and I was stuck in traffic.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Does it fluctuate while driving?

If so get your thermostat changed.