I know this is a really common problem but I have checked the dash and connections. Stripped dash and checked all connections.
Would appear that the sensor might be faulty. Cheap enough to quickly replace and check. However......
I seem to have a RED sensor fitted. All the ones on the web seem to be either Blue or Black. No one seems to have a red sensor in stock, would a blue one be the same?
I have a 1991 1.9 DG. Anyone shed some light?....
Temperature guage or Sensor not working
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- paul66beetle
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
I just went thru this same thing yesterday. My Westy has a 2.1L gas enginge so I don't know if this will help you or not. First thing I did was to check the voltage at the sensor's plug where it was 9.93volts, which would be the correct voltage with the ignition turned to on. This then meant that the plug is fine.and To check the gauge, I took a paper clip and grounded out the plug. Then turned the ignition to on and I watched the gauge spike. This means that the gauge is working correctly. If it were still not working at this point then it could only be the sensor itself that was faulty. In my case the plugs wires had become brittle and were failing. I took of the plug and soldered in some new wires and cut back the old where there wouldn't be corrosion and soldered in the new wires to the old. Temp gauge works as intended now!!
1987 Westy
What the Westy Wants,The Westy Gets
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What the Westy Wants,The Westy Gets
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- paul66beetle
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
Found this which helped explain my red sensor...
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 17&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 17&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- paul66beetle
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
Suggest taking that advice off the wiki. I tested the gauge using that method, when turning ignition on I heard sizzling bacon noise so switched off ignition and the bridging wire was very hot! Gauge didn't move.
- paul66beetle
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
paul66beetle wrote:Suggest taking that advice off the wiki. I tested the gauge using that method, when turning ignition on I heard sizzling bacon noise so switched off ignition and the bridging wire was very hot! Gauge didn't move.
Do not try this at home kids!!
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... alfunction" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
I think it's quite easy to get the wires in the wrong terminals at which point you are connecting an unfused 12v line to ground!!paul66beetle wrote:paul66beetle wrote:Suggest taking that advice off the wiki. I tested the gauge using that method, when turning ignition on I heard sizzling bacon noise so switched off ignition and the bridging wire was very hot! Gauge didn't move.
Do not try this at home kids!!
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... alfunction" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1987 Westfalia Van, Petrol 2.0 AGG
- paul66beetle
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
Followed wiki to the letter.
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Re: Temperature guage or Sensor not working
Unfortunately I have the old fuse layout so I can't comment on the Wiki (perhaps someone with the newer layout can confirm that the Wiki is correct).paul66beetle wrote:Followed wiki to the letter.
I'd probably go with trying to ground the connection at the temp sensor and see what the gauge does then to confirm that it is the sensor that is kaput.
1987 Westfalia Van, Petrol 2.0 AGG