temp guage extreme right 2003 Cavalier Z24

The temp guage on our 2003 Cavalier Z24 swung to the extreme right indicating overheating. There was no accompanying indicator light coming on ie. low coolant or check engine etc. The motor did not show any signs of overheating and it continues to run well. After sitting for three hours, the temp guage is still at the extreme right, to the point that it is interferring with the speedometer guage needle. Just to complicate things, the speedo needle does not seem to be working now! Is this common? Does it sound like a faulty temperature sending unit? How would that explain the speedo problem? Could the speedo have been damaged by the temp needle holding it back? Does this sound like it could be driven to work in the morning?... (it is still running like a top). Is it worthwhile locating the temp sending unit and disconnecting it? If so, does anybody know where to start looking for that? (we don't have the repair manual)

the problem is in the ipc itself.because the temp guage went beyond it's limit.there is probably a short in the ipc itself.just starting to see this problem surface.I have replaced 3 this week.

I don't have a manual here. How hard is the Instrument Panel Cluster to change? Is it expensive? Is it only available through the dealer? Is it worth trying to find one at the wreckers or is it still too new for that?

Are we allowed to drive this thing in the meantime...to work in the morning; about 35 miles?

the ipc is not real hard to change.i think there about $250.00 from the dealer,but you can call a junk yard and ask if they have one.mabe get luckey and find one that new that was wreaked.if your saying it does not overheat or there are no drivability problems,i cant see why you can't drive it.here is how to change the ipc.
http://service.gm.com/engif/000/001/228/1228176.gif

That looks pretty straight forward. Does the steering wheel have to come off? If so, I might not be able to do the job because of the air bag? The air bag requires special tools etc?

the steering wheel does not have to come off,just tilt the steering wheel down all the way to get the bezel around the ipc off.just remove the upper dash pad and bezel around the radioo and ipc.this job is not to hard.

Thanks for all that. It is my niece's cavalier. She went ahead without me and had the dealer fix it so I didn't get my hands on it after all. The dealer referred to the part they replaced as a 'sop cluster'. Is that slang for ICP or have you ever heard it called that? The part was $250.00; the price jives with an ICP price.

SOP meaning "Special Order Parts", cluster being the IPC. only problem with getting used cluster is milage cannot be programmed. this way, milage showed will stil lbe correct within the few days she drives it without new one in.

Thanks a bunch 16th and brian. Automotive Forums is untouchable.