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[devonian]

Hi, hope somebody can help here....

Driving car today had covrd about 50 miles, car running fine...all of a sudden temp gauge shoots up to 100c+ and then drops suddenly back down again (too quick for it to be fan cutting in?). Then starts to behave very erratically up and down the gauge first red hot then back to normal.

Stopped as soon as able and popped open the bonnet, but no signs of overheating, no steam, expansion tank full and not overhot to the touch?!

Also car running normally no loss of power or any warning lights or EML light.....very strange.

Is this a major problem or possibly just a faulty sensor or thermostat??

Dave

[Chopsdad]

If the fan isn't cutting in and it returns to normal, I'd suggest faulty thermostat.

I had one supplied and fitted last year for about £30 - so not the end of the earth.  

[sounds2k]

bear in mind that on the V6 engines, the thermostat sits in the valley between the two banks so there's a bit of disassembly required before you can get access to it, accordingly I'd expect it to cost a bit more than £30!

JamesCDX has just done MaxV6's ... the temperature sensor however runs off the coolant bridge, it's a single spade connector so it might be worth checking that's connected OK - but again it will require removal of the wipers and scuttle at least ...

[TheBoy]

Or a faulty sender unit, or water dripping on sender...

[sounds2k]

... it could also be a faulty temp display in the dash - which is not unheard of ...

[Chopsdad]

bear in mind that on the V6 engines, the thermostat sits in the valley between the two banks so there's a bit of disassembly required before you can get access to it, accordingly I'd expect it to cost a bit more than £30!

JamesCDX has just done MaxV6's ... the temperature sensor however runs off the coolant bridge, it's a single spade connector so it might be worth checking that's connected OK - but again it will require removal of the wipers and scuttle at least ...

Sorry, missed the 2 extra cylinders - plenty of room to get at it in a 2.2  

[TheBoy]

... it could also be a faulty temp display in the dash - which is not unheard of ...

Tends to go the other way in my experience...

[Andy B]

... it could also be a faulty temp display in the dash - which is not unheard of ...

You can prove the gauge by earthing the wire that goes to the temp sender, when you do so the gauge should go all the way to HOT.

[devonian]

thanks guys, at least its not too serious, was bit worried for a while! Will have to have a play around...

Just for info whereabouts is the temp sensor located?

[Andy B]

thanks guys, at least its not too serious, was bit worried for a while! Will have to have a play around...

Just for info whereabouts is the temp sensor located?

Right at the back of the engine - in the V

[devonian]

cheers Andy  

[chris b]

  if i can rember m8 its a pig of a job. had a pipe split on me and thats in the same place. hope you havent got big hands yul never get them in ha ha. gud look.

[TheBoy]

It is possible to do without any dismantling, but its far easier to take scuttle off...

[Gaffers]

I wonder if I have a similar problem.  My ecu light has been on for a bit now and the code states temp sensor voltage low.  I also got a faint smell of coolant yesterday for about 2 minutes.  So I stopped popped the bonnet, coolant level had dropped about 1cm after about 400 miles, the smell seemed to come from the back. Does this point to the same kind of problem?

Gaffers

[Marks DTM Calib]

If you aheva  fault light and it says coolant temp sensor....then change it as it will be costing you in petrol.....unless some numpty has fitted one of those stupid ebay resistors....

As for the gauge shooting up....it might simply be the wire catching on the engine and shorting it to 0V.....