Temp guage gone mad!

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

My temp gauge usually goes to the middle position - 90degreees - within 2 miles of driving.
The last 2 days it has stayed on the cold, 60 degrees, setting for up to 14 miles before moving, fairly speedily, to the middle, normal setting.
Today it was fine after 4 miles then dropped back to the cold reading and then, 8 miles later, decided to go the the normal middle position.

Does this sound like the thermostat is bu66ered?

A neighbour suggested that I use Radflush to clear out any rubbish and then flush the radiator and refill. Would that help or juts be a waste of time if it's the thermostat that's died?

 

[Pulsebassuk]

My temp gauge usually goes to the middle position - 90degreees - within 2 miles of driving.
The last 2 days it has stayed on the cold, 60 degrees, setting for up to 14 miles before moving, fairly speedily, to the middle, normal setting.
Today it was fine after 4 miles then dropped back to the cold reading and then, 8 miles later, decided to go the the normal middle position.

Does this sound like the thermostat is bu66ered?

A neighbour suggested that I use Radflush to clear out any rubbish and then flush the radiator and refill. Would that help or juts be a waste of time if it's the thermostat that's died?

hmm that sounds like what happened to me. My firends cupra got to 90 fairly quickly and sticks there no matter what. mine used to take ages to get to 90 then when I was on a motorway it used to go down maybe because of the air hitting it i dont know. Now I have recently upgraded to a nuespeed thermostat and it all seems to be fine again ie: getting to 90 quickly and staying there. so maybe it is ur thermostat

 

[CupraElliott]

Could be thermostat or coolant temp sensor.

I had similar symptons so changed the thermostat.....even though the other one seemed fine. Worked fine then.

 

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

O.K. seems to be about £9 for one. I'll look into it. Is is safe to do 500 miles in this weekend or do I have to put up with the wife's car instead?

 

[CupraElliott]

Well its not good running your car around all the time when it's not warm. So if you have the option I would use another car.

Dont forget you will need coolant to top up when you remove the thermostat.

 

[MIkey kc]

defo a thermostat

 

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

Well its not good running your car around all the time when it's not warm.

Thanks - but my limited techncial knowledge tells me that the engine is warm it's just that the dial isn't telling me that it's warm.

I'm off to investigate spare parts - thanks folks for your info

 

[Shytot]

Where is the thermostat out of interest as my gauge is pi$$ed up I swear,

 

[MIkey kc]

under the inlet manifold mate

 

[CupraElliott]

Thanks - but my limited techncial knowledge tells me that the engine is warm it's just that the dial isn't telling me that it's warm.

I'm off to investigate spare parts - thanks folks for your info

Do you get hot air through the heater? Does the top radiator pipe get hot?

 

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

Yep - I get hot air through the heater.
will try top rad pipe tomorrow
Temp gauge has been perfect since I threatened it with being attacked with a screwdriver!

 

[mr_D]

defo a thermostat

not really. engine temp sensor is what sends the temp to the dials. and this is what will be causing it to go up and down. its a common fault for them to go

 

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

O.K. thanks for that Mr. D... maybe engine temp sensor then.

I get hot air through the heater and the top radiator pipe gets hot.

The needle behaves itself some days, on others its moves normally and on others it drifts up and down as it pleases.... I wonder if I could get it to synchronise it's movements with the rear wiper going off by itself - now THAT would be an impressive mod!!!

 

[CupraElliott]

Sounds like an intermitment fault then which would point towards wiring....ie the sensor.

 

[sparkie1984]

you could try vagcomming the dials mate?

i did mine the other day, was fun watching the speedo hit 160 lol, not sure if it would show an error code, but worth a go if you have it

 

[NowGottaIbizaMk5]

Sounds fun but I've not got VagCom

 

[sparkie1984]

lol, there was s erious suggestion in there by the way mate, just threw in the 160 as a little fun extra vagcom wil let you read any faults with the instrument cluster thats why i said it

 

[cupraajy]

i know ths in the Mk3 section and i run a mk4 cupra, but last night driving home my car starting beeping at me...thinking it was the petrol beep...i looked down and my temp was just about touching 130 degrees!

Scared for my car i phoned AA, coolant level hadnt dropped no signs of the head gasket gone, he jumped in the car and found that the heaters were always blowing cold.....his suggeston....thermostat fooked! Would he be right in saying this guys?

Thanks in advance....and sorry for the hi-jack, need to get the car back on the road by tommoro for work

 

[s1l3nc3r]

not to sure if its the same on the mk4 but on the mk3 the normal places to check are fuses ontop of battery water pump or thermostat...hope that helps.

 

[cupraajy]

very similar....got the fuses ontop the batt, but at 1st glimpse they look ok!
Water pump seems to be working....took the coolant cap of and you can see a constant flow through it!

Going to get a new thermo tommoro and see if that makes any diff!

Thanks