Temperature Gauge

[wickedwalrus]

Hey Everyone,

My in-dash temperature gauge does not seem to be working correctly. I bought a (actually another) SWB TD42 the other day and while driving home on the highway the coolant temp sat in the middle of the temp gauge as expected, then ran very hot when driving at slower speeds closer to home (not happy - expecting it's done a head or head gasket). Problem is... now it will barely move past the L mark even when left idling for 30mins. I replaced both the temperature sensor and the temperature sender on the thermostat housing with no luck. I followed the service manuals instructions to check that the gauge was getting power when in the 'ON' position which it was, and connecting the respective contact on the dash to an earth sent the gauge past the H line almost instantly. I know these gauges aren't accurate and I will get an aftermarket one later... but I still want all of the gauges in the dash to at least work.

What else should I be checking for?

Cheers,

[swamprat]

have you checked if the thermostat is actually working , if it is now stuck open it wont warm up just idling

[wickedwalrus]

Hey swamprat =) I haven't pulled it apart to test however I ran it with the radiator cap off and with the heater on to get full circulation and the water in the radiator cap was pretty hot. I may give that a check next but do you know what the temperature range is on the guage from Low to High?

[MudRunnerTD]

I recently had some big issues with my GU Temp gauge. I replaced the sender and the new sender sent it straight to operating temp as soon as i turned the key so knew it was out of calibration. reverted tot he old sender and it came good with some circuit cleaner so ignored it. Over New Year i was away and it started running HOT. damn it. I was running hot though so it was hard to tell the difference but when it got hot at Idle i was very very concerned that i had cooked the engine.

When i got back i ripped out the sender and fitted a new Redarc digital gauge. I installed the redarc sending in lieu of the factory sender and fully disconnected the factory gauge. Best thing i ever did. The problem i believe for me was a compromised loom somewhere that i was never going to trace. I made it redundant and will never look back. The factory gauge simply no longer functions. The Redarc is a whole new learning curve for a TD though.

[Wizard52]

I recently had some big issues with my GU Temp gauge. I replaced the sender and the new sender sent it straight to operating temp as soon as i turned the key so knew it was out of calibration. reverted tot he old sender and it came good with some circuit cleaner so ignored it. Over New Year i was away and it started running HOT. damn it. I was running hot though so it was hard to tell the difference but when it got hot at Idle i was very very concerned that i had cooked the engine.

When i got back i ripped out the sender and fitted a new Redarc digital gauge. I installed the redarc sending in lieu of the factory sender and fully disconnected the factory gauge. Best thing i ever did. The problem i believe for me was a compromised loom somewhere that i was never going to trace. I made it redundant and will never look back. The factory gauge simply no longer functions. The Redarc is a whole new learning curve for a TD though.

Yes it is interesting watching temps go up and down with a real gauge while driving at different speeds and up and down hills. I have a VDO but it took 3 units to get it right as first two were faulty.
The factory gauge gets to normal at about 60c and does not move after that no matter what the real temp is.

[mudski]

Yes it is interesting watching temps go up and down with a real gauge while driving at different speeds and up and down hills. I have a VDO but it took 3 units to get it right as first two were faulty.
The factory gauge gets to normal at about 60c and does not move after that no matter what the real temp is.

Come for a spin in my TD and I'll show you a factory gauge move. ;)

[MudRunnerTD]

Come for a spin in my TD and I'll show you a factory gauge move. ;)

#JustSendIt

Hahahaha. i have seen mine bounce off the top a couple of times mate. it aint good!!