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Topic: Temperature Gauge - reads minimum (Read 357 times) |
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AdamS
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I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 17
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Temperature Gauge - reads minimum
« on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 11:09am » |
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Hi all,
The temperature gauge on my '98 2.3 GhiaX Auto has been reading very little for a little while now - i wondered if there was a thermostat fault stopping the engine from warming up but sat in a traffic queue last weekend it suddenly sprang up to midway and then dropped again as i drove off! (mind you, the heater performance isn't all that spectacular either)
Consequently i am suspecting a dodgy connection somewhere but if anyone has any thoughts i'd be very grateful!
A.
P.S. - Incidentally, i do tend to lose coolant over a period of a couple of months, although there's no obvious leak, and the 'low water' light never comes on, even on one occasion when the expansion tank was completely empty!
P.P.S - the more i write of this the more i think it's time for a new car!! 
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Temperature Gauge - reads minimum
« Reply #1 on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 11:37am » |
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hi there
last point first. the late '97/'98 spec car doesn't have a low level sensor ( i know the light is there, but!!!).
sounds like the dash temp sensor is u/s. it's on the manifold, just to the left of the thermostat. there's 2 sensors, one above the other. think it's the black one, though i can't remember. watch when replacing it. there SHOULD be a gap between the 'nut' on the sensor and the manifold. the manifold is plastic, so you need to be carefull.
hth
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harry.m1byt
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What's YaBB?
Posts: 792
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Re: Temperature Gauge - reads minimum
« Reply #2 on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 6:38pm » |
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If you short the plug on the sensor (engine end) to ground, the gauge should show hot. If it doesn't, then suspect the wiring or gauge. It might just be the same problem I had, which was an high resistance temrinal at the engine multi-plug. On the 2.9 12v this is located on the OS inner wing - just unscrew the bolt in the centre of the plug and it comes apart cleaning up its connections as it pulls out.
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August '95 2.9 12v auto Ultima -
Now flashing 
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hellblue
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Ill have silver,it dries just as fast !
Posts: 210
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Re: Temperature Gauge - reads minimum
« Reply #3 on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 9:40pm » |
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Only short the sensor if you know you have the right one as the one next to it is connected to the ecu !!(its the forward most one if i remember ?) a new ones about £10 so just change it,you may have a blocked & or leaking heater matrix?? back flush the system through the matrix & replace the thermostat, as a stuck stat will cause the engine to over heat ~ then head gasket/split inlet manifold!! will follow
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Gary
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Temperature Gauge - reads minimum
« Reply #4 on: Jan 24th, 2007, 11:08am » |
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Regarding the unidentified water leak....
...As hellblue says, it could be a leaky heater matrix, but also, if you put your hand under the t-stat housing & the manifold is wet...then you may have found your leak.....a leaking t-stat housing or cracked inlet manifold 
Coolant loss will also cause air to enter the system, which may explain the needle staying low & then rising & dropping again
P.S. the temp guage sensor is the forward most one with a square multiplug. The ECT which goes to the ECU is the one behind it with a round multiplug. 
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