Club 80-90 Forums

Was working fine last week! Started up today and no movement at all, just stuck to the left. Red indicator light is working fine when I turn the ignition on. Have checked the connection on the header tank and thermostat housing and all looks ok. Have also checked the connector block to the speedo.

Any ideas chaps/chapettes?

checked earth crowns?
checked earths under coil
checked edge connector on dash?
is this a late van?

itchyfeet wrote:checked earth crowns?
checked earths under coil
checked edge connector on dash?
is this a late van?

I thought you had a good memory, wasn't that long ago Justin redid all his earths and I'll bet you contributed to the thread!!!

Yep, earth crowns all good and clean Paul - all new earths and connectors in the engine bay and to coil. Have fiddled about with the connector with the van running and no change (everything else on dash is working fine).

Just seems strange as it's just stopped without any notice - was fine last week and nothing now.

Late van mate.

Earth strap on gearbox wouldn't make any difference would it? That's one I haven't changed as yet but have a new strap to go on.

Apart from that she's running better than ever at the moment

what2do wrote:

itchyfeet wrote:checked earth crowns?
checked earths under coil
checked edge connector on dash?
is this a late van?

I thought you had a good memory, wasn't that long ago Justin redid all his earths and I'll bet you contributed to the thread!!!

Ok so ground the sensor wire engine end ( not with the brown in loom) and see if the gauge moves.

clean ring or spade terminals does not guarantee good earths.
old rigg and soades can have corrosion from crimp to wires, wires can also be jnternally broken.

give the 14pin plug at the dash pod a rigggle....

itchyfeet wrote:Ok so ground the sensor wire engine end ( not with the brown in loom) and see if the gauge moves.

^^^^WHS

If the flashing LED works when you turn ignition on (ie it flashes for a few seconds then stops) then that pretty much proves that you ground is OK (and anyway, the temp gauge itself doesn't really need a ground to work - it's the flashing LED that needs the ground)

So, yes, ground the temp sensor wires to the engine block - that should makes the gauge shoot to the right (hot)(and also make the LED flash)
If the gauge does move then it suggests that your temp sensor is busy; if it doesn't move then the fault is prob in the wiring or the gauge ......

...... let us know what the test results are .....

Thanks for your input everyone, I shall report back with my findings once I've had a go at the temp sensor!!

Bit late in updating, but was the black 2 pin temp sensor - did the short test and the gauge flew across to the right. New one on order.

New sensor fitted and temp gauge is working fine although the needle now sits at about 3 quarters on the gauge instead of the usual halfway. Could this be because the new sensor has a different resistance level (if that makes sense)!

yes. Mine has been at various 'normal' positions following changes of sensor, clocks etc.

Nice one, cheers Ralph.

Help needed, I'm getting a bit confused trying to sort out non functioning temp gauge and oil warning light. Van has a tdi AFN but wasn't running when I got it.
Now runs beautifully but no temp gauge/ oil warning light or glow plug light.
Temp light flashes.

Swapped clocks with a known good set to test.
No temp gauge. No Oil light. Yes Glow plug light but strange behaviour. On 30secs off 3secs on half brightness 6 secs, slow flashing 6 secs rapid flashing 4 secs then out. This is always the same pattern? Timings maybe a bit different but definitely a repeating pattern.
Swapped oil temp sensor on the head (black) with a spare grey one like the one above oil filter - no difference.
Fitted a blue one from a golf mk 3, oil light now comes on goes off when engine starts but no temp gauge and same strange morse message from glow plug light.

Fitted blue water temp sender from motor factors (4 pin) no change.
Swapped with stubby type sender after google search same as one I removed but yellow ring, no difference.

Measured glow plug voltage they are working and switching off.
Temp sensor wires engine end brown/white and brown have 0.02 v, the other pair nothing..
There is an earth at the gauge I assume as the blinking light works as it should on 5 secs then off.

What next please?