I've tried a few things today including replacing the 2 temp senders, fitted a new thermostat and replaced the fan temp switch. After running the car for 10mins the temp gauge is very close to max, the fan doesnt come on....however, I have realised that the bottom hose is still cold! I assume this means the thermostat isn't opening, the one I have fitted was a Topran one, could it be faulty?
How can I adjust it to open at a lower temp? I assume there isn't anything electrical that effects the thermostat, its purely mechanical?
I have splashed out on an original VW thermostat which will be arriving next week.
Yeah, I can see coolant returning into the expansion bottle.
I haven't tried replacing the thermostat, is there any way to tell if it is working without replacing it and seeing if it make a difference? I have a fan temp switch arriving this week so will see if that helps but it would be a coincidence that it has decided to stop working as it worked the last time I has the car out.
I'm new here but have been rescuing a little 1988 1.3 Golf over the winter. I'm on the home straight but am stumped with a temp issue.
ISSUE: My temp gauge rises quickly then sits very close to the limit, there is no warming light illuminated and the coolant temp doesn't seem too high.
BACKSTORY: My temp gauge didn't work when I got the car and I wanted to change my clocks for a set from a 8v GTI as I wanted a rev counter. I did this but the gauge still didn't work so that wasn't the issue. I changed the 2 temp sensors...the gauge worked! However, as I've explained I've now got this issue with it looking like its over heating. I've flushed to coolant and it looks to be flowing well. The fan didn't come on a a short test drive today...it has done in the past. How long should it come on after the car has been sat idling?
Is there anything obvious I need to be looking at? Are the temp gauges in the 8V clocks different to the 1.3 gauges? Is the new temp sensor I've got giving a false reading? Can gauges give a false reading? Should the temp warning light be on if the gauge is that high or does it work independently to the needle?
I've bought another sensor to try and see if another gives a different reading.
Sorry if this is a bit of an essay but would appreciate some help!
