Engine running hot, hot, hot!

[markbikerider]

Hello folks,
I finally had my temperature guage repaired today and was concerned driving home as the guage was well over to the right (nearly max). I was stuck in traffic for most of the journey so employed my fan overide switch (It's wired to turn the fan onto max speed), but the needle stayed there. Even when I got onto the motorway at a steady 55mph, the guage was still well over to the right... The coolant level is full, the thermostat is fully functioning, so I'm a bit perplexed as to why the engine is so hot. Its been so long since the guage worked, I can't remember where the needle used to sit, but I'm assuming it should be about half way? Is this right? If not, does anyone out there have any suggestions as to why the engine (2.1 WBX) should be running so hot?

Many thanks in anticipation - Mark

[Mocki]

When you say fixed, did someone replace the temp sender in the thermostat housing?

Did it go straight to "hot"
Your rad fan should have cut in when the temp gauge got to 3/4 without using your "chicken" switch ?

[markbikerider]

Hi - Yeah, the temp sender was replaced. It took about 5 mins for the guage to start to climb and I put the fan on probably just before it reached 3/4 as I was stuck in traffic. I know the thermo switch works as I replaced that myself. Cheers, Mark

[AdrianC]

So with a new gauge sender, the gauge is reading way too high...

D'you know where they got the sender from?

Haven't got my Bentley PDF on this laptop - does anybody know what resistance the sender should be reading for various temperatures?

[kevtherev]

reads like the wrong sender or a faulty one.
do you have a plastic thermostat housing?

[markbikerider]

That's interesting - I think he said it is a plastic housing for the sender. Its' an auto electrician I use and he said VW sent the wrong sender twice, so I think he had to do something to it to make it fit. I'm not sure what that was exactly, but perhaps 'modifying' the wrong sender could be the route of the problem then?

[kevtherev]

get your sender from Brickwerks... stop faffing about

...and hope he hasn't buggered the housing up

[markbikerider]

Yeah, just been on Brickwerks and found it - Doh! Ah well, because I have an irrational fear of all things electric, at least paying the auto electrician has diagnosed where the problem lies. Now all I need to do is fit the right sender.....

Cheers all for your help! Mark

[AdrianC]

because I have an irrational fear of all things electric

The grand total of "things electric" involved in changing the sender is... unplugging one plug and re-plugging it.

Seriously, don't be scared of electricity. At least it doesn't leak.

[markbikerider]

Seriously, don't be scared of electricity. At least it doesn't leak.[/quote]

Amen to that, brother!

[ermie571]

It does bliddy leak!! one day my battery was fine....the next day....NOT!! It all leaked away!! lol

[Mocki]

Nothing worse than a leaking electric tank!