Temperature gauge help please!

Got a 83' golf gti a few weeks ago and the temperature gauge when the car is running doesn't do anything and then when sat in traffic for a few minutes goes right up to the top and flashes red untill your driving along again then goes back to doing nothing. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers Dan

If it was my car I'd start by doing the following:

1. Drain coolant and refill (ensure no air locks)
2. Run engine at fast idle to ensure fan kicks in
3. If 2 is ok and gauge still shows dodgy the i'd replace sensor

I have done 1 and 2 and the fan kicks in etc, where abouts is the sensor? Cheers dan

have a look here (#17 is the bit you want)

Had a look yesterday and where on the diagram there is one mounted i have just got a plastic piece with the hose coming out, there seems to be no sensor in sight.

Do you know what engine code are you running?

Actually I think I know where yours is.  If you look at front of head on your right hand side you will see a bit Hutton out wih two wires on top, your sensor is just in front of that, I will put a picture up later tonight showing the bit I mean

So i suspect you have this on the front of your head



(obviously I am pointing at the sensor with my finger)

This is mine (doesn't have the sensor)



My sensor is here



Let me know if that sorts you out

Yeah had a look bud and that's where mine is, do you know where I could get one from because everywhere I've looked all I can find is your type of one as mine has a spade conector on it, here's a pic


Cheers dan

dumb questiion time.

Isnt the fact the wire isnt there/connected more of a pressing question than the type of connection?

djheap22 said

dumb questiion time.

Isnt the fact the wire isnt there/connected more of a pressing question than the type of connection?

LOL - I thought exactly the same, but thought "Nah, he's diconected the wire for the picture…"   :mrgreen:  


 :roll:  or maybe he hasn't…

Haha yeah I have disconnected the wire for the picture to show what type it is, should of mentioned that anyone got an idea where I could get one from?

Hey

Just a quick suggestion for you as I have had a similiar issue myself…I found the gauge on my car would not move at all.

Just make sure and check the relay on the fuse board… I pulled out the related relay from the fuse board to find the points on the said relay corroded with rust which obviously was the root of my problems (My car had been lying up for quite a while). On my car a 1988 Gti Cabriolet the relay was marked relay 1 and was in the top left hand side of the fuse board but yours maybe different.

I have a spare temp sender which is working as I replaced mine thinking that was my problem I am betting your issue is similar to mine.

Check that relay and see what happens.


Cheers
Michael

yeah bin that sensor, its not right. you want a black collar sensor, most mk1s have them as do early mk2 and all mk2 16v. can even find em on mk3 16v