Right its a prob with my mg zr and the temperature gauge seems dead on the middle all the time.....except when going "up" hills at which point it seems to fly up anywhere between 3/4's or higher then gradually makes its way back down again on a flat within 30 seconds to a minute. I know gauges tend to alter on hills etc marginally but this is much more than marginally!, anyone know what it might be please?
Temperature gauge going up!!
- Thread starter bobert50
- Start date
If your temp guage is fluctuating when accelerating/decelerating going uphill/downhill etc. check your thermostat it will most probably be stuck open like mine was.
your temp guage should sit just below half (about 2 notches below)
classic sign of thermostat stuck open is car takes a bit longer to heat up (by this I mean temp gauge needle to reach under halfway)
your temp guage should sit just below half (about 2 notches below)
classic sign of thermostat stuck open is car takes a bit longer to heat up (by this I mean temp gauge needle to reach under halfway)
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Most cars won't get up to temperature if the thermostat is stuck in the open position, also it will drop like a stone on a motorway cruise.
Does the gauge drop if you put it in a higher gear and run with the revs higher? If it does then your thermostat probably has a weakened spring. Otherwise check the coolant level is correct and try to bleed the sytem.
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Thermostat or possibly duff waterpump as mentioned
Nooooooooooooo please don't say that
Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check the thermostat AND the coolant levels tomorrow when its bright again! Its only up hills , if i put it in high gear on the motorway it stays halfway. It does genuinely seem dead on half way though, not 2 notches below. It doesn't do it in traffic either btw.
Will post back when sorted with what it was! suspect maybe coolant levels myself
any more ideas please post!Nooooooooooooo please don't say that
Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check the thermostat AND the coolant levels tomorrow when its bright again! Its only up hills , if i put it in high gear on the motorway it stays halfway. It does genuinely seem dead on half way though, not 2 notches below. It doesn't do it in traffic either btw.
Will post back when sorted with what it was! suspect maybe coolant levels myself
If it doesn't overheat in traffic then the stat is not stuck closed, if the temperature stays at half on the motorway its not stuck open. Half or just under is right for a rover K so I would check your coolant level.
Yep check coolant level both rad and filler.
Even if filler tank is full, It's still worth checking the rad. Just take the top of if you can see the coolant level in the rad then it's fine. If you can't get some coolant and start filling it up. if it's only takes a tiny amount, thats not the problem. if it takes a lot that's probably it. then you would need to find out why the filler tank didn't top the rad back up.
Even if filler tank is full, It's still worth checking the rad. Just take the top of if you can see the coolant level in the rad then it's fine. If you can't get some coolant and start filling it up. if it's only takes a tiny amount, thats not the problem. if it takes a lot that's probably it. then you would need to find out why the filler tank didn't top the rad back up.
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As said above check your coolant and quickly!
It is vital that the coolant never ever drops below minimum on the Rover K - this is a big cause of HGF
It is vital that the coolant never ever drops below minimum on the Rover K - this is a big cause of HGF
Thanks again for the replies...
Seems i'm very lucky! (as always!). I'd let the coolant run right down but since filling it up again theres absolutely no "mayo" , coolant seems clear and i'm not losing any. All is well! Think i'll keep a closer eye on maintaining it in future haynes already in the post !! 
Seems i'm very lucky! (as always!). I'd let the coolant run right down but since filling it up again theres absolutely no "mayo" , coolant seems clear and i'm not losing any. All is well! Think i'll keep a closer eye on maintaining it in future
haynes already in the post !! Clearly you are losing coolant, there is no other way for the level to drop as the coolant system is (or rather should be) sealed.
Assuming no obvious signs of leakage (e.g. rusty stains on engine/gearbox or engine bay), the favourite cause of this is a leaking inlet manifold gasket. They tend to start as a tiny leak that progressively gets worse until you notice the engine misfiring when you start it up (due to coolant in cylinders) or if it's really bad you can get a partial hydraulic lock, making the starter really struggle to turn the engine over. Eventualy unchecked coolant loss will cause the head gasket to fail.
The good news is that this is a fairly cheap and easy problem to fix.
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ah sorry i'm just over the moon that it appears i've escaped the dreaded "HGF" ..at least for the time being!
Yea i've read about that problem...what strange is and this won't be easy to explain or "word" ..i've never had any problems with the car starting once it starts to try to start (turning over) but when i turn the key it sometimes seems to take a while to start trying to start the engine, almost like its waiting for the electrics. Is this likely to be connected to the leaking inlet manifold gasket? Once it starts its pretty swift to start the engine as its always been.
EDIT - for the costs of these i may aswell grab one anyway.
Yea i've read about that problem...what strange is and this won't be easy to explain or "word" ..i've never had any problems with the car starting once it starts to try to start (turning over) but when i turn the key it sometimes seems to take a while to start trying to start the engine, almost like its waiting for the electrics. Is this likely to be connected to the leaking inlet manifold gasket? Once it starts its pretty swift to start the engine as its always been.
EDIT - for the costs of these i may aswell grab one anyway.
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