Strange engine temperature guage behaviour

cm1179 · 16 Oct 2009 at 21:08

if your engine is overheating to a dangerous level, a temp gauge isn't gonna make any difference really cos theres a far more serious issue.

Beerbaron · 16 Oct 2009 at 21:30

My A3 says mines at 110' C. Ive had the thermostat changed twice and then gave up on it after that. The car has never over heated

Matt82 · 16 Oct 2009 at 23:33

Happy said:
Because if I was going to be spending any money on it, there's a very long list of stuff that's more important than a gauge which sometimes doesn't work.

jesus. is your car actually road worthy then? :confused:

Happy · 17 Oct 2009 at 00:28

Matt82 said:
jesus. is your car actually road worthy then?

Yeah, however there are some small issues..

The locking on the drivers door sometimes jams, so it'll lock when open and you can't even force the lock open, so you can't shut the door. Just leave it an hour and it'll unlock itself :confused:

Passenger window sometimes won't go up again (electric) etc. Basically if my car decides it's going to have a bad day I'm screwed. But these things happen quite infrequently, which is why it's okay to use. Couple of other minor issues as well. Like I said earlier, saving for a new car

BigglesPiP · 17 Oct 2009 at 01:01

No engine is going to cool to 50C while running, it's the sensor.

Matt82 · 17 Oct 2009 at 07:32

biggles, never had a car with a duff stat i take it?

happy, does sound like a collection of niggly things yours suffers from... bad luck

Fuzz · 17 Oct 2009 at 10:11

Happy said:
Yeah, however there are some small issues..

The locking on the drivers door sometimes jams, so it'll lock when open and you can't even force the lock open, so you can't shut the door. Just leave it an hour and it'll unlock itself Passenger window sometimes won't go up again (electric) etc. Basically if my car decides it's going to have a bad day I'm screwed. But these things happen quite infrequently, which is why it's okay to use. Couple of other minor issues as well. Like I said earlier, saving for a new car

so are you rating a critical gauge / sensor lower than a window that doesn't work and central locking that is a bit hit and miss?

Sounds like you have your priorities a bit wrong there matey.

Matt82 · 17 Oct 2009 at 11:54

guage is only small so you cant see it innit

BigglesPiP · 18 Oct 2009 at 01:05

Matt82 said:
biggles, never had a car with a duff stat i take it?

999cc Uno with the stat wide open and the heater valve stuck on hot, never dropped below 70 once warm, even in December.

Fuzz · 18 Oct 2009 at 06:50

I see quite a lot of performance cars with stats removed altogether and they wonder why the fuel economy is crap. under 70 degrees will trigger the "cold start" fuelling requirements to a varying degree. Even thrashing the car doesn't warm it up.
So in short a car will run cold if the stat is removed (generally)

Most standard dash water temp gauges are made to stay "in the middle" for quite a wide temperature range so as not to worry the driver. so if it is moving significantly and it isn't a duff reading due to electrical issues, it really aught to be looked into.

Stormster · 20 Oct 2009 at 00:44

My MK4 Golf Turbo has started doing this, fluctuating between 80 and 90 deg C, even when idling... doesn't jump up and down ALL the time nor particularly quickly when it does, but... from what I can tell, as said, temp sender is the culprit