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HELP!! Erratic Temp Gauge 

 

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 Post subject: HELP!! Erratic Temp Gauge
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:16 am 
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As per the subject suggests my temp gauge is a bit erratic at times, heres what happens.

Start my car, go for a drive round and after a few minutes the temp climbs right up to the top of the "normal" area, then drops down to where it starts which is just below the "normal" area. sometimes it repeats this a few times before settling after bout 15 minutes of city driving. Even after topping up the coolant it still does this.

Ever since I've had this car the temp sits on just under the "normal" area, I'm guessing that this is due to the fact I've got a heavy duty radiator in. But I'm not sure.

Here are my specs
EB I 3.9 CFI
Dual Fuel Gas/Petrol
Heavy Duty Radiator and transmission cooler.

Anything else just ask.


Thanks in advance

 

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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:25 am 
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Sounds like the thermostat opens fully at a higher temp.
rushing cold water in, (cooling) then heating it up till theres a medium point, then settles.

Mine crawls upto ¼ then back down just above L and stays.

play it safe, replace thermostat, inspect system and renew the coolant.
Whats $40 when playing it safe?

 

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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:02 am 
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no problems thanks,

where bouts is a good place to get a thermostat from here in Adelaide? don't want to get ripped off lol.

Also i know this is a really dumb question but where does the thermostat sit in the engine bay?
The car manual is barely readable at best and I've got virtually no mechanical experience at all.

 

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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:28 am 
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its right on top of the head where the hose goes to the radiator. That dome shaped housing. Get one from repco or somewhere like bursons etc. clean up the mating surfaces and use silastic black gaskets. Mine was doing similar things before I replaced it.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:32 am 
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Also check your grounding of your battery.

As these are electric gauges I have seen plenty that play up like you describe cos your battery has worked loose on the ground connection

 

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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:55 pm 
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finally did the thermostat, still quite erratic but only goes up to L of normal then comes back down to just below N. any other suggestions?

Also where bouts are the grounding points for the battery? I'll check them next.

Also I know I've got two leaks in the system, one of them is the head gasket, coolant coming out not going into the cylinder and the other is a leak on the gas converter somewhere, may have to be replaced not sure yet. Both these leaks are very slight at the moment.

 

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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:13 pm 
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Basically follow the negative terminal from your battery.

One will go to the chassis somewhere, the other to the engine block somewhere

Make sure all is tight and you can then rule that out!

 

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Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:58 pm 
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Just checked, all nice and tight, so can't be that, :( starting to get to me cause i've got to do the head gasket in the next few weeks and what this fixed first

 

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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 6:56 pm 
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OK flushed the system just a few minutes ago, and refilled with coolant, just going to wait and see what happens now fingers crossed. I'll post back in a few hours, if anyone has any more suggestions in the mean time I'd be more than happy to hear them.

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:07 am 
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Still no difference still goin up and down a lot, any more suggestions?

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:21 am 
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The gauge might be done

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:39 am 
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The dash gauge? just upgraded from a low series (original) cluster to mid series and it was doing the same on the low series one. I"m pretty sure its not electrical cause the engine seems warmer and sometimes I get a weird (overheating?) smell when i stop and get out.

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:45 am 
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why not fix headgasket first before chasing this
if you think it's not electrical, then it must be mechanical

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:59 am 
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Who is going to do your head? Might be able to help with that if you like.

 

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:34 pm 
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smithy_1 wrote:
why not fix headgasket first before chasing this
if you think it's not electrical, then it must be mechanical


Would the head gasket be the cause of this? Just don't want to have to turn around and re-do the head gasket in a few weeks thats all.

Hadn't really gotten anyone to help as of yet MadMatt, will be bout 2 weeks before I get a chance to get to it but any help would be appreciated.

 

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