Thread: temp guage going weird

If the engine isn't actually getting hot, which I suspect it isn't or you'd know about it, I would suspect poor earthing. It is a 300Tdi?

JC

It's a TD5 isn't it
Check your radiator and rest of the cooling system.
The ecu is protecting (trying to) the engine.
Your either suffering cooling problems or head gasket.

Was the check engine light included?
Just to throw something else in the mix. Had similar issues when the upgrade chip wasnt seated properly in its socket.

Cheers

The coolant is still normal colour no milky look to it. No loss of power except when the temp guage poos its pants.

Could the thermostate be sticking?

Easo

Bad earths, surely. ECU sees erroneous readings, panics. Possibly new temp sender too.

If its a Td5, I agree with Mike. I have seen them with these same symptoms, wierd temp spikes and engine power losses was caused by air being forced into the cooling system.... Was the coolant level at these times OK?

JC

Just returned home, all up 750k round trip from Seymour to Wagga Wagga.

There was no gradual needle creep just sudden spikes.
Normal loss of power for a split second.
When needle returned to running temp position running fine.
Did a complete oil change in Albury and the fault did not return until the return trip at Wangratta. Albury-Wagga-Albury-Wang...
The fault only reared its head 4 times from Wang to Seymour.
When the needle was in the normal position there was power as normal.

The horse was comfy.

Easo

Needle won't rise, just spike like you said.

Time to pull the radiator, flush the cooling system and replace the thermostat.

You may get away with the above.

If the heads moved, your up for more.

But get the radiator out, clean the fins (and those on the condenser)