Weird annoying temperature gauge problem.

OK, how about this for a problem.

If I'm running my car (1983 cab GTi) with nothing electric turned on it runs absolutely fine. as soon as I turn something relatively powerful e.g rear heated screen or headlights, if the engine is at operating temperature it will cause the red overheating LED to start flashing, literally at that second. (the guague stays in the same place) Turn them off, it stops instantly.

I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the voltage in some way causing the gauge to think the engine is hotter than it is. The needle on the gauge never moves, always stays in the same place roughly, which on my car is about 3/4 of the way up the guage. (Is that the normal position for it to sit?)

Any ideas???

mike.

My temp gauge used to go up about a quarter of the dial when I switched the headlights on!

I got a full set of donor dials and rebuilt the lot.

Search space invader on this forum for further gauge chat!

Peter.

tallpete said

My temp gauge used to go up about a quarter of the dial when I switched the headlights on!

I got a full set of donor dials and rebuilt the lot.

Search space invader on this forum for further gauge chat!

Peter.

Mine does too, when i turn the lights on and the mfa oil temp jumps 12 degrees :dontknow:

Hmmm, not looked at the MFA reading, will have to do that tomorrow now! At least I'm not alone in the problem! Let me know if you find a solution.

Mike

I would suspect a faulty earth to start with, which will be highlighted more at high load (Heated screen on etc), more resistance, greater current, greater voltage drop. which in turn will cause the refernce of gauges to be affected. they need arcurate voltage to give stable readings.

Anyway the science won't help you solve it, I personaly would start with the battery terminals and make sure they are clean then check the negative one conneted to the body, Not sure how it is connected on a Golf but make sure it free of rust and corrosion. if it is clean it to bare metal wear it fixes. then see how the light fares.

PS My gauge sits just past the red LED, but the owners manuals says between a 1/4 and 3/4 is fine.

just had a look at my car and the earth for the battery goes to the top of the gearbox, there must be an earth strap to the body underneath somewhere, could be a poor connection there.

PS always diconnect the battery before playing with any connections !

Thanks for the advice, will spend the weekend cleaning up connections I think!  

Hi again after doing some searching on the site there is an earth strap between the rocker cover to the bulkhead, maybe your culprit.

Look here http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…c&t=4065&start=0&postdays

Rob