AlexM

Hi All,

My MY98 has developed a problem...
I noticed that the water temp gauge now drops considerably when you accelerate. At idle or a held speed the gauge will read normally.

The water in the expansion/filer tube is slighly low, but still visible so I assume that the water level is sufficient.

Any ideas where to start looking? Unless it is likely to be something simple it will mean a trip back to the dealers .

Thanks,

Alex

Excuse the thread title typo..


[This message has been edited by AlexM (edited 19-05-2000).]

firefox

Howdy...

Never go on the water level bottle thingy...

When the engine is cold, remove the water tank cap (rad cap if you prefer)..

Check the level in there.... make sure that is full.

The expansion level is for excess pressurised water to vent into.

J.

MorayMackenzie

Sticky thermostat or something?

Wouldn't a lack of coolant cause overheating rather than "overcooling"?

firefox

It could be the stat...

It could be the sender unit.. or the display itself.. you wont know without logically checking things... always try the obvious first

A low level of coolant can cause both high and low...

It depends on the where the fluid is.... ie the engine is low on fluid is reading high.. he drives.. the fluid moves... and is started to be circulated... hence the sudden drop.. but will rise again.

It was just a suggestion...

Moray... how is your 400BHP-Motec-Water Injected-Flame throwing-Turbo destroying-Monster ? lol

J.

MorayMackenzie

Hi J,

I suspected a duff thermostat because he said the gauge drops from normal temp when he drives it... so I assumed the temp gauge may be ok... which may be wrong, as you say.

Who ever said 400bhp? Oh yes... just you! Ate my clutch... but that's another story...

By the way... IIRC, you have fitted a front mount intercooler to your car... how does this effect turbo response when compared to standard top mounter intercoolers?

Moray

firefox

Moray..

How many times have you asked me that question.. and how many times have I not answered...

lol

J.

MorayMackenzie

J,

Including this time, about 5 times... ho hum.

Maybe I should assume that your reluctance to reply implies it was a completely pants, stupid idea to burden your scooby with one of these overpriced units and that you are embarased to have wasted your money on one.

Moray

AlexM

Hi,

Thanks for your answers so far. I've checked the water level in the header tank which is full, so I am assuming that this is an electrical problem, as opposed to a loss of coolant situation.

I have a couple more questions:
1) Where is the water temp sender on a UK MY98? I expected to see it tapped into the body of the rad, but obviously it it sited elsewhere.

2) Is there a seperate fan switch? the fans seem to be switching on and off normally, so either the temperature sender is ok and the gauge is faulty, or the fans are controlled by another switch and either the sender and gauge (or both) could be u/s.

3)If the water temperature sensor is faulty I wonder what it will be doing to the fuelling of my Link when it suddenly goes from normal operating temperature to zero (and back again)?. I assume any ECU includes some type of logic to detect faulty sensors readings and assume a safe mode of operation where this is the case.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

Steve L

AlexM,coolant temp sensor for the E.C.U is located in the alloy housing running under the inlet manifold,brown two pin multiplug next to that is single terminal sender unit for the gauge.If the brown sender fails car usually very difficult to start when cold,E.C.U sees a temp reading of about -200degrees,cooling fan runs all the time.Result massive over fuelling on cold start.Not sure what failsafe procedures are for the Link.Sounds as though the single terminal sensor has gone down!

AlexM

Steve,

Thanks for that information. I am thinking you're right given that the car clearly isn't overheating, and fan operation seems normal.

Fuel mixture via the Lambdalink seems normal, so the ECU sensor is probably ok.

Back to the dealership methinks.

Rgds,

Alex