Hi all,

The temperature gauge on my 1.3mpi is behaving erratically. Sometimes it rises part way to the normal position but no further. Sometimes it eventually gets to normal but then falls back part way. Sometimes it sits on cold. The car doesn't seem to be overheating so I'm not sure where to start. I was thinking that the temperature sensor might be the problem or is a sticking thermostat likely?

All time saving advice gratefully received.

Michael

Thermostats are notorious for having problems on MPI felicias - the housing can break up and stop it working properly. That's your first port of call, fairly easy to do, just undo it (three 8mm head bolts on the housing on the top of the engine), and see if it's all still there. Replacements easily available if it's broken. Senders can also give problems, in the same area, but usually tested either by using a hot water source, a thermometer and an ohmmeter, or by replacement!

Thank you. Is it necessary to drain the cooling system to do this? The Haynes guide says that it is but I am hoping not.

Michael L

I would say that depends on how old the current coolant is. Might be worth draining and flushing anyway.

It's not necessary, but you will of course lose a bit where you remove the thermostat. If you're worried, drain it into a bucket and put it back in - no point in wasting antifreeze...

Thank you. Is it necessary to drain the cooling system to do this? The Haynes guide says that it is but I am hoping not.

Michael L

Changed the thermostat housing on my mpi last summer and didn't drain the coolant. You do lose some as djaychela states, but you can stuff rags around the area and place a tray under the car to avoid making a mess. The replacement housing was the modified type from jorily; I don't know if they're still available, but are a worthwhile improvement if yours is broken.

If you're worried, drain it into a bucket and put it back in - no point in wasting antifreeze...

You've just gone way up in my estimation

Thanks for all of the advice. I decided to change the temperature sensor first as its so easy. I'm now getting nothing on the temperature gauge! I see that the sensor is 'engine side' of the thermostat so I guess this means the problem is with the gauge rather than the thermostat. That looks a whole lot more complicated involving removing the dash. Hm...

Michael L

Removing the instrument cluster housing is fairly easy and takes about 10 mins to do. 5 Screws (1 either side of the centre switches [small "blanks" just pull out], 1 behind the centre vent control, 1 behind another blank by the fog switches and 1 behind the big blank above that), gentley pull forward, hand in from the right, release 3 squeezy electrical connectors and the speedo cable (also squeezy release) and disconnect the centre switches. From here it's just wiggle and jiggle the cluster out around the steering wheel.

The instrument cluster is held in place with a couple of clips. The guages themselves are held to the cluster with a couple of screws.

When re-fitting, I found it easier to undo the speedo cable from the gearbox and pull it through the dash to make reconnecting a lot easier.

Thanks again,

This is good news. According to Haynes you have to take out the steering wheel and I didn't fancy messing around with air bags etc.

This forum is brilliant!

Michael L

According to Haynes you have to take out the steering wheel and I didn't fancy messing around with air bags etc.

According to Haynes you're lying.

According to Haynes you're lying.

Michael,

You'll have to excuse the know-it-all, arrogant, loudmouth from Romania, his grasp of english lets him down at times, and also forgets that there are different versions of Haynes throughout the world. One of the biggest differences are that evidently the Romanian edition gets sketches instead of photos, and that the sections are named and numbered differently. Oh and not forgetting that your steering wheel is on the other side of the car too ;)

You are quite right that the Haynes manual you have, does indeed on page 12.11, section 9 (Instrument Panel - Removal and Re-fitting), item 3 states "Remove the steering wheel as described in section 10".

Don't expect an apology for being called a liar in open forum though. ;)

Haynes is correct: You *can* remove the steering wheel and it makes the job easier as there's more room to move the cluster around. But it does mean ****ing around with the airbag and faff of taking the wheel off and then putting it all back when you're done. Patience is the key here though. However, once you find the correct wiggle, you'll be whipping the cluster out in minutes, if needed, in the future. :)

dude, you are far for being a moderator (thank god), and I am sure you're not his advocate too.

how moron can you be thinking a romanian haynes manual is written in english? or is the majestic view over your oh-so glorious maternal language that keeps you from sleeping?

so instead of biting my ass for every reply you don't like, why don't you kill some time playing sudoku, scrabble or solving crosswords? you're so full of 'sheet' with your patronizing tone that you make me puke. you have to learn that the sun is not revolving around england, that smug people like you couldn't stay on their island and looted foreign countries bringing them slavery and poverty, you have to learn also that you're driving on the wrong side of the road (most people are right-handed and change gears with right hand) and for god's sake stop using units of measure derived from measuring royal limbs...it's lame.

anyway, you're far from behaving well on this forum, I had to report numerous times your advertising, wrong section and more than anything, your insatiable need of yakking about off topic subjects so we can have an 'airy' forum.

and another VERY IMPORTANT thing: where were you when new topics were posted and people awaited quick answers? Weaving socks to warm your old bones next winter? because I answered many times very quickly attaching useful illustrations. yes, it's hard for you to scan, edit, annotate and upload photos... you only feed on other people's answers like a hyena eating corpses.

so my asvice is to stay away from me, you're nothing but hot air.

Ah, the angry breeze from the east, it's so good to wake up to your rantings. You leave me with such a smile on my face after reading your postings.

dude, you are far for being a moderator (thank god), and I am sure you're not his advocate too.

how moron can you be thinking a romanian haynes manual is written in english? or is the majestic view over your oh-so glorious maternal language that keeps you from sleeping?

so instead of biting my ass for every reply you don't like, why don't you kill some time playing sudoku, scrabble or solving crosswords? you're so full of 'sheet' with your patronizing tone that you make me puke. you have to learn that the sun is not revolving around england, that smug people like you couldn't stay on their island and looted foreign countries bringing them slavery and poverty, you have to learn also that you're driving on the wrong side of the road (most people are right-handed and change gears with right hand) and for god's sake stop using units of measure derived from measuring royal limbs...it's lame.

anyway, you're far from behaving well on this forum, I had to report numerous times your advertising, wrong section and more than anything, your insatiable need of yakking about off topic subjects so we can have an 'airy' forum.

and another VERY IMPORTANT thing: where were you when new topics were posted and people awaited quick answers? Weaving socks to warm your old bones next winter? because I answered many times very quickly attaching useful illustrations. yes, it's hard for you to scan, edit, annotate and upload photos... you only feed on other people's answers like a hyena eating corpses.

so my asvice is to stay away from me, you're nothing but hot air.

Again, your sad attempts at insults aside......

".....you have to learn that the sun is not revolving around england, that smug people like you couldn't stay on their island and looted foreign countries bringing them slavery and poverty, you have to learn also that you're driving on the wrong side of the road (most people are right-handed and change gears with right hand) and for god's sake stop using units of measure derived from measuring royal limbs...it's lame."

Not sure how that relates to.....

"your insatiable need of yakking about off topic subjects....."

But am sure that ancient history is on-topic, somehow.

Edited 7 August, 201213 yr by RainbowFore

My Haynes manual for the Felicia agrees with rainbow and the OP.

I, too, find too many of the replies from Romania, to simple questions, [often from those who, quite rightly, have little mechanical experience] , to be arrogant in their composure. Not sure whether there really is a language issue, or whether someone wishes to try and set themselves up as a self-appointed 'expert?'

Either way, the use of the significantly dramatic description of being a 'liar' is totally inappropriate....on this, or any other forum.

At the very worst, a better word to use might have been, simply, ''mistaken?''

Well, I'm glad we've got that cleared up! No need to remove the wheel as proposed in my Haynes. By the way the Romanian illustration doesn't look like my car anyway. The outstanding problem now is to find a new or second hand gauge. I was pleased to find that new ones only cost £25 but not so pleased to find that there are none available! So far no luck with Breakeryard.com either.

Anyone got one kicking around?

Michael L

the manual I quoted from is a 2002 INTERNATIONAL edition supervised and amended by the very manufacturers from Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic. if you got a problem with that and deny even what's written in black & white, it's your problem.

if you have another haynes edition with pretty photos, that's only because you got all confused if you see a normal left-hand steering wheel. in addition to that, what value has that english-to-english translated manual if, for instance, tells you to remove the steering wheel for nothing?

by the way, Romania is not another english speaking colony like malvinas. it is a latin country with skilled and intuitive people that can read technical manuals in several foreign languages without getting a headache.

Edited 7 August, 201213 yr by masster

by the way, Romania is not another english speaking colony like malvinas. it is a latin country with skilled and intuitive people that can read technical manuals in several foreign languages without getting a headache.

Blimey, now we're on to The Falkland Islands. Totally On-Topic!

your insatiable need of yakking about off topic subjects so we can have an 'airy' forum.

Methinks that someone in Romania has a slightly large chip on his shoulder about something, and it's far from car related.

According to Haynes you're lying.

According to Haynes...........

.......you owe Michael a public apology.

And that would be the Haynes Manual 3505 with the

on the cover.

Methinks that someone in Romania has a slightly large chip on his shoulder about something, and it's far from car related.

those who seed wind will collect storm. get off my back old man and don't pretend you're a virgin.

oh, and it is Malvinas Islands, they're argentinian, learn to live on your home land, it's 21st century, not middle age.

.......you owe Michael a public apology.

no I don't. so sue my ass lawyer boy.

Edited 7 August, 201213 yr by masster

Well, I'm glad we've got that cleared up! No need to remove the wheel as proposed in my Haynes. By the way the Romanian illustration doesn't look like my car anyway. The outstanding problem now is to find a new or second hand gauge. I was pleased to find that new ones only cost £25 but not so pleased to find that there are none available! So far no luck with Breakeryard.com either.

Anyone got one kicking around?

Michael L

Ah now there lies another issue..........there are two (at least) temperature guages. From the face they look the same, but behind, they are different shapes. The clear plastic "light guide" sits over 1/2 the dash illumination bulb and the speedo sits over the other 1/2. The two butt together in a very very cosy way. For whatever reason, there are two speedo/temp guage combinations. I found this out when transplanting a cluster from one Felly to another. I wanted to keep the speedo in the original car [for obvious reasons] and swap the rest. So in the end I had to keep the guage in the original too. (One was a V reg and the other an X, so not a huge age gap, plus both were Funs, so an even more narrow parts bin)

If you're going to the breakers, I would suggest taking the original out (the car should be fine without it) and take it in with you, just be sure. If you're in the breakers, and you've got the cluster out, might as well grab the bulbs from it too. If you've not got the rev counter, I believe they are plug and play too (plus you get a digital clock), but make sure you get the fuel guage as well, just in case they were changed too.............actually, if you need all those bits, just grab the whole cluster. You might it useful as spares, in case a plastic lug or two get broken

However, I have got one that looks like this......

............it has no face as it came from one of The Funs. (Oddly I have the speedo, rev and fuel faces, but not the temp......must look harder) But the face is a simple job to remove.