strange coolant problem stupid red light!

[Valsowners]

a short circuit across the gauge due to faulty connections at the coolant sender will also cause the LED to flash and the gauge to swing hard over to the right. Suspicious that it did this at start up so I would check the wiring at the sender connection for starters, the module 43 could cause this same problem if faulty.

Thanks for this suggestion, which sender do you mean the level one in the header tank or the temperature one - the location of which I have absolutely no clue about!!! plus whats module 43 - is it one of the box shaped thingys behind the glove box?!?

[AngeloEvs]

The coolant temperature sender is in the thermostat housing, no idea where the level sender module 43 is on an 82 (in the dash somewhere but I'm guessing) but I doubt thats your problem anyway. Reading your post its hard to determine wether the problem is in the cooling system or an intermittent wiring problem so just thought it might be worth mentioning another possibility along with the others already mentioned.

[windysurfer]

I think you may have had two problems.
Originally your problem sounds like wiring as it happened before the engine had chance to warm up.

Now it sound as though you may have a overheating problem as the gauge seems to respond to your driving and the fan coming
on suggests the engine is hot.


Is the rad getting hot all over?
Does the temp gauge drop if you put the heating on full?


I'd also order a new thermostat from Baxter for what it costs just to rule that out.
Cleaning the big white plug and connectors on the back of the dash is worth ago.
Also worth having a read of Baxters bleeding guide
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/bleed ... 29710.html

I has a similar problem a while back which was sorted with a combimation of new thermostat, cleaning dash connector, new rad fan switch( my fan wasn't working) and bleeding the system correctly.

[Valsowners]

Is the rad getting hot all over?
Does the temp gauge drop if you put the heating on full?

After a 10 mile run (inc motorway) the rad seems warm all over, it wasnt that hot at all I could touch it quite happily - is that normal??
I did try the heater before the red light incident and the funny thing is it worked blowing hot and cold, it only used to blow hot!?! I didn't try it during the red light/needle incident I completely forgot

Before the run I topped up the header tank which took about 700ml all seemed fine the temp gauge stayed to the left of the red light (a little bit lower than it normally sits) in the last mile the needle and light started being silly again. This time though when I changed up a gear it moved back down and when I stopped at lights it moved down ?!?!?

I've just been out (after 45 minutes cooldown) and checked the header tank, it appears to be low again. This suggests a leak to me, but could it be an airlock or something to do with the dalek???

If it is a leak how do I test for that

I'm going to order a new dalek, temp sender and thermostat and get them replaced - it can't hurt

I really am worried now guys the last thing I want is a weekend in a tent for Run to the hills(not to mention the embarrasment of turning up in a focus)!!!!