Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,
I know this is quite common but my temp gauge read reliably half way until I had a new thermostat housing, thermostat and sensor fitted. All Brickwerks parts.
Temp reads just below max and on a run will put the light on, the fan does not kick in ( fan sensor also replaced and fan tested, it does run when hot).
This was 12 months ago, since then I've had a full engine rebuild and still the same issue.
Previous posts recommend testing to see what temp you are actually getting using an infrared thermometer to see if it's normal. My question is, what is normal?

I am getting the block reading 88C, the hose over the top of the gearbox 88C and the hose at the top of the thermostat housing 50C when the gauge is in the top zone and red light flashing???

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Easy stuff first. The red flashing light also comes on when the water level in the tank behind the flap is low.

I would then check the operation of the fan on different speeds, it should come on well before you get up to the top end, which means either the indication on the temp gauge is wrong or the fan system has a problem.

Water level is correct, with tank with the darlek cap full, tank behind number plate showing 'full' ( half way up).
The levels have been consistent so I'm fairly happy I don't have an airlock either.
Fam will come on when hot as it used to before the gauge issues started.
I've tested it on both speeds and it does run on both.



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If the temps you have given are correct for the coolant, then they seem fine, so it looks like it's the sender module at the rear. There's are plenty of posts on here on how to test it, I just don't know the detail off the top of my head

Thanks, everything seems ok except the reading on the gauge. I'll do some digging on here for how to test the sensor etc

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I would Just try a different temp sender first ...
Also check for damaged wiring , causing incorrect resistance.
Take the wire off the sender and see it reads nothing on the gauge .

Some useful links

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=165775

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... &p=8238427

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... &p=8238134

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... &p=8233855

From personal experience I find the early vans will keep the temp needle at mid point with an 80C thermostat and late vans prefer an 88C

Have you tried bleeding the rad? Maybe an easier fix than you think?


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Da dan wrote:Have you tried bleeding the rad? Maybe an easier fix than you think?


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Thanks Da Dan, I'm confident that I don't have an airlock because I've done a fair bit of work on the system recently and used the Simon Baxter method to bleed.
I've got it booked into someone who knows what they are doing because I've wasted so much time on this and got no further forward.
I'll keep everyone posted with how I get on!

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You have checked that the sender the gauge is plugged into is the correct one, and not a switch ?

Take a bit of time reading this thread from itchyfeet. Even he needed a bit of extra encouragement to get it sorted

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 1&start=15

He actually had 4 problems in the end, and I suggest you should do a resistance test on the sender as your next action and compare to the thread above

Hi all

Old post revival time!

I did promise I would get back to you with the outcome of this one!

Apparently the aftermarket sensors have a different resistance to genuine ones so can read higher. Although I had bought my sensors through Brickwerks I replaced it again.

Although the gauge is not sitting at 12 o clock when up to temperature, it is just to the right and does not trigger the warning light when working hard like it used to so I am happy to live with it.

Not 100% perfect but a hell of a lot less stressful now the gauge sits in a better location and not triggering the light!