Temperature Gauge and Clock not working

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
jimbobbig
Registered user
Posts: 6
Joined: 26 Dec 2005, 15:23
80-90 Mem No: 2806

Temperature Gauge and Clock not working

Post by jimbobbig »

The temperature gauge and the clock on my 89 caravelle do not work. They haven't worked for some time now. (bit stupid of me to be running around with no temp gauge, I know)

Any ideas what it might be?

syncrosimon
Registered user
Posts: 570
Joined: 29 Jan 2007, 00:50
80-90 Mem No: 3784
Location: Blackdown Hills of Devon and Somerset
Contact:

Post by syncrosimon »

I have just had trouble with mine, and found it to be the main wiring harness plug into the dash pod which just needed wiggling until everything worked. I found that I could reach this plug whilst sat in the drivers seat. Its just up and under in front of you. It's a crap design and does not seem to seat positively. I put some electrical grease on it and with a few wiggles everything worked. If this plug is not in properly you can loose all the gauges and warning lights, and i even had the buzzer of doom going at me. If you cant find the plug without taking the dash pod off, then it is a fairly tricky job envolving removing all the switches on either side of the dash pod.
It could also be that the clock is broken, if it is an analouge one, then lots of spare available from CJ at syncrospares, or if its the digital one, then it is very hard to repair or replace.
The temp gauge sender wires might have come off, or it might be faulty in which case they usually read low, rather than not working at all.
Good luck.
simon.
1991 16" DJ (sold)
2006 Subaru Outback 3.0R
2010 Yamaha Ténéré
2000 KTM LC400

User avatar
Hacksawbob
Registered user
Posts: 4444
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 07:11
80-90 Mem No: 1168
Location: Lancs UK member 1168

Post by Hacksawbob »

also get a green scouring pad a shiny up the electrical contacts that the plug conects to on the dash circuit board.
member 1168

User avatar
mininut
Registered user
Posts: 1686
Joined: 13 Oct 2006, 20:25
80-90 Mem No: 3031
Location: Glenluce, Newton Stewart. SW Scotland.
Contact:

Post by mininut »

Just sorted the temp gauge on mine. After doing all the usual checks it turned out to be the 'big' plug. Must have looked at it a dozen times before noticing the contact for the temp gauge was fractionally lower than the rest of the other contacts. With a bit of careful adjustment (bending) of the contact it was sorted :D
Paul

1990 Autohomes Kamper 1.9DG......... (Diabolical miles per Gallon)

villawagen
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 Apr 2008, 15:41
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: birmingham
Contact:

Post by villawagen »

just had the led light start flashing all the time on the temp guage, what does this mean ?

Simon Baxter
Trader
Posts: 3116
Joined: 08 Oct 2005, 19:36
80-90 Mem No: 1
Location: Huddersfield, WeYo.
Contact:

Post by Simon Baxter »

You've run out of coolant, or it's cooking.
'86 VW T3 syncro panel
'89 VW T3 Westy Atlantic
'81 Porsche 924
SJ Baxter LTD/Brickwerks

villawagen
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 Apr 2008, 15:41
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: birmingham
Contact:

Post by villawagen »

Simon Baxter wrote:You've run out of coolant, or it's cooking.


where do you put the coolant? i know i sound thick but i have only just got it and i have always had aircooleds :oops:

Simon Baxter
Trader
Posts: 3116
Joined: 08 Oct 2005, 19:36
80-90 Mem No: 1
Location: Huddersfield, WeYo.
Contact:

Post by Simon Baxter »

In the water tank, in the engine bay, fill it right up till you can get no more in.
Then, behind the flap (numberplate) that needs to be filled to max.
'86 VW T3 syncro panel
'89 VW T3 Westy Atlantic
'81 Porsche 924
SJ Baxter LTD/Brickwerks

villawagen
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 Apr 2008, 15:41
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: birmingham
Contact:

Post by villawagen »

thanks mate i will do it now got to do a car boot in the morning :evil:

villawagen
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 Apr 2008, 15:41
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: birmingham
Contact:

Post by villawagen »

done it !! it did not seem that empty though, topped it up with about a ltr of water until it overflowed :shock: is that normal to have the light flashing for that amount low on water :?:

clartsonly
Registered user
Posts: 27
Joined: 22 Feb 2007, 11:15
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: bedfordshire

Post by clartsonly »

there are two tanks for coolant the one on the left is the expansion tank and must be filled to the brim, the one on the right is the overflow tank and must be filled to the max when cold, coolant can move between these tanks during normal operation. 1 litre is quite alot of coolant to be missing, more importantly did the flashing red light stop flashing?
Dylan = C Reg 1986 T25 1900 Water Cooled..

villawagen
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 Apr 2008, 15:41
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: birmingham
Contact:

Post by villawagen »

clartsonly wrote:there are two tanks for coolant the one on the left is the expansion tank and must be filled to the brim, the one on the right is the overflow tank and must be filled to the max when cold, coolant can move between these tanks during normal operation. 1 litre is quite alot of coolant to be missing, more importantly did the flashing red light stop flashing?

yep filled it up and flashing has stopped, seems ok now thanks :wink:

Locked