hi,

i have searched for and read other threads about this, but i am afraid (being non-techy) i am still a bit confused as to what i should do...

my temperature gauge didn't move off the bottom of the display in 80 miles yesterday. i'd just decided it had died when i stopped in traffic and noticed it suddenly read about 80' and then dropped again when i started moving.

my question is: since the display is kind of working, is the problem the temperature sensor itself? and am i right in thinking that (from reading other threads) that a faulty temperature sensor can make my car run poorly, have worse fuel efficiency and shag the catalytic converter? i.e. it needs booking in, i can't run it like this and assume it won't overheat?

thanks as ever!

(edited to add: this is a 2000/w felicia 1.3 petrol).

I hope you have checked there is water in the header tank. Does the heater work OK..either way, you can't ignore an errant temp gauge and assume its the gauge that is faulty..even though it might well be.

One of the reasons a temp gauge will read zero is if the sensor is sitting in air not water..yes folks.that was me on the M62 in July 1978 in my ancient but wonderful Peugeot 204 estate..it got me home to Leeds from N.Wales, and it was the head gasket on that occasion.

Give it a good going over before driving it again..PLEEZE:eek:

Alfie 168

oh! i will do.

i forgot to put in a couple of bits of information:

before i set off there was a little bit of cream cheese under the oil filler cap for the first time ever. there wasn't any on the dipper, and no water had gone from the main reservoir (i keep an eye on the levels). i cleaned it off and when i got back from the journey there wasn't any more cream cheese in there. the water is all clear.

also, i think the heater wasn't kicking out as much heat as normal during the journey, but i couldn's swear to this. (it was still putting out some heat though, not cold air).

i don't know if this info makes any difference. my immediate thought on finding the cream cheese was that it's the head gasket, but i've been only on v short journeys recently and combined with the water levels being fine, i think (hope) it might just be condensation...

Head gasket is easier to diagnose than people think, and cream on the oil filler is not necessarily an indicator, though it can be. Get the cooling system pressure tested. Its non invasive and if the pressure holds then your head gasket is OK. Local short journeys will generate condensation and cream in the oil filler.

If the heater is not up to scratch it could be the thermostat or the water pump. Once the stat is open there should be identifiable re circulation back into the header tank.

Alfie 168

I had the same problem on my 96 1.3 felicia.

The temperature guage would only move if the car was stationary and would go down once i started moving again.

Felt the cooling pipes just after driving car when guage was reading nothing and they were just luke warm and heaters in car were also just luke warm.

Took the thermostat housing apart and, yep you guessed it, the little plastic bracket holding the thermostat in place had snapped and so the thermostat was constantly open and constantly colling the engine.

Got a new one, and works great now!

Thats most likely your problem by the sounds of things.

sounds like a trip to the garage again then! thanks very much both of you!

I had exactly the same problem. I bet it's your thermostat. I only paid

thanks, this makes me happy! i hope it's a cheap and effective fix! (although i am not sure i want heatstroke with summer on the way! )

(although i am not sure i want heatstroke with summer on the way! )

just a figure of speech.

It's damn hot now though. Should help dry out your carpets if you have the leaking windscreen issue.

Should help dry out your carpets if you have the leaking windscreen issue.

how did you know?!

i've booked it into the garage tomorrow, hopefully will be sorted for not great

how did you know?!

.

that one goes without saying.

hello! i have a new thermostat housing and the car is running great now! last week the engine sounded soooo ropey in 2nd gear above 2000rpm, today it's quiet as a mouse. amazing.

that one goes without saying.

Again, woodie doesnt have this issue? think we may have bought a rarity!

lottie- congrats on getting her back to a good driving machine:thumbup:

definatley thermostat gone, mine did the same.

Around

Again, woodie doesnt have this issue? think we may have bought a rarity!

give it time.

give it time.

LOL!

Where's the thermostat situated?

It's on the right hand of the cylinder head (facing the engine) mounted at the back. It has a hose that goes to the top of the radiator. It's easy to see. If you have the plastic version it will be black plastic.

On my 1.6mpi engine it's on the right-hand side, right at the front where the top radiator hose goes into the engine. The Haynes manual has a procedure to test the dash gauge. If that is successful, chances are that your temperature sensor needs replacing.

I can't find anywhere that sells the right temperature sensor for my W-reg Felicia 1.3MPi. I need the one with 4-pins and its got a blue ring round it. Does it have a different name cos shop people keep bringing out something different and saying "is this it?" then when I say no they say they can't help me! Ah! I'm in Suffolk and I've already tried GSF and UniPart

I can't find anywhere that sells the right temperature sensor for my W-reg Felicia 1.3MPi. I need the one with 4-pins and its got a blue ring round it. Does it have a different name cos shop people keep bringing out something different and saying "is this it?" then when I say no they say they can't help me! Ah! I'm in Suffolk and I've already tried GSF and UniPart

If I am correct the part number you need is 6U0 919 501 B which is described as a temperature sender, and the ring for it is N 903 168 02, or for the whole thermostat housing, thermostat and sender 047 121 111 A for a vehicle without air con.

I would go to a dealer, they should be able to figure out what you want from the pictures on their system. If using the part numbers would check they'll take it back if they order it and it turns out to be the wrong part.

i think i might need a new thermometer as the car seems to get hotter when its stationary but when it is moving it seems to get cooler...i assumed this was because my radiator fan broke a while ago

(when my battery discharged all its power into all of the engine electrics blowing up the ecu and alternaor as well)

and that the only way of cooling down my engine was to go faster and get more air to it at 70mph its not even on the gauge but if i sit in a traffic jam for more than 10 mins its up over 110 degrees

does this sound like a thermometer problem or is it probably more to do with my lack of radiator fan?

does this sound like a thermometer problem or is it probably more to do with my lack of radiator fan?

It would seem reasonable to get the fan working again first. Being stuck in a jam for 10 mins with no fan would make the temp rise, but in present weather conditions probably not so easily into the red zone.

I'd check the rad fan switch by bridging it out and see if the fan cuts in, if it doesnt check supply voltage to the fan.

Quick question for those of you who have changed the thermostat housing yourselves on 1.3MPi:

Did you drain the the coolant as suggested by Haynes?

Or is it possible to change without draining and the topping up any lost coolant?

thanks