Update on the sensor
The one I placed on order with
www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk met the same fate turns out they couldn't get one, it is now no longer listed on their website.
Anyway at the risk of showing myself up
, I tested the whole thing again.
I took the sensor out of the cylinder head, disconnected the cable which connects onto it, got two jumper leads, connected one between the cable I had just pulled off the sensor and the sensor itself, so I'd got enough length of cable to allow me to dangle the sensor in some hot water.
Connect the second jumper lead between the sensor body and grounded the other end of it.
Dangled the sensor in a cup of very hot water, Verdict, didn't the temperature gauge start to move, tried it a few times and yes every time I did it the gauge moved.
Don't you just hate problems like that.
I had previously tested the sensor on it's own with a multi-meter and cup of hot water and I did get different resistance readings as the water cooled down, but I didn't know what parameters the sensor was supposed to work within, so assumed it wasn't working correctly.
I was thinking where the heck do I go from here, then a light bulb came on, no not in the car the one in my head.
I disconnected the jumper between the sensor and the cable which pushes onto it, did a continuity test between the cable and the car ground and sure enough I got continuity.
It wasn't until I waggled the cable about a bit did I not get continuity, bingo a darn broken wire which was making and breaking, I soldered a new section of wire in and at last the water temperature gauge is working again
.
So I didn't need a replacement sensor after all, but I don't think I would have had any luck trying to track down a new one
I even tried
www.brit-car.co.uk an independent Land Rover parts specialists, same answer, no joy.
Thanks again fellas for taking the time to offer your suggestions, all of them were greatly appreciated and I hope my little saga will come in useful for anyone else with similar issues.
Cheers
Clive