Temp gauge in the red - Solved
#1
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guys, lately i have noticed that whenever am driving my temperature gauge rises to the red but the car doesnt overheat. i had the thermostat cleaned cos it had carbon deposits around it but it didnt solve the problem either, what could be causing this? any help will be greatly appreciated. thanks
Last edited by steveinfrance; 12-29-2012 at 06:48 AM.
#2
Join Date: May 2008
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Could be that your coolant temp sensor is failing and that is causing the computer to think that the car is running too hot. Granted, could also be a problem with the wire going to that sensor too. I would confirm the temp using an IR thermometer on say the top of the radiator or something of the like. The temp there should be around 200F when at idle. If you are getting up around 220F, then you have an actual over heating issue.
#3
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thanks thermo, the thing is as soon as the temp gauge rises and i notice and put the ignition off and restart the car immediately the gauge goes back to read normal and it it will happen after about 15mins drive, so am tempted to agree with you on the faulty temp sensor. anyway i will try and get a replacement.
#4
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Hi do we know if the temperature sensor was the problem for this issue?? My 2001 3.0L AWD X-type has started doing the same thing on longer runs. I will be driving along at 70MPH or so and then It will display "CRUISE NOT AVAILABLE" and i can't get past on my message centre and i can't accelerate past 70mph then about 20 seconds or so later the temp guage rockets up to max and the dash lights up telling me "ENGINE TEMP TOO HIGH".
SO obviously i immediately pulled over the first time this happened and switched the engine off expecting so be calling out the Auto mobile rescue guys but i switched the ignition on a minute later (not starting the engine just turning the ignition to position 2) and the temp gauge showed normal all systems ok! So i pop the bonnet and check the water level, all ok and slowly (with hands covered) release the expansion tank cap, only a normal amount of pressure release and the water is not boiling. Restart the engine all ok so i carry on only for it to happen 5 miles down the road, so i stopped the car again and switched the ignition off and on all reset all ok. It has done this a few times to me now and seems to be getting regular. So is it the temperature sensor? If so I'll be off to get one straight away. Seems strange though the car puts itself in safe mode nearly half a minute before anything happens with the temperature guage though and the car itself is not actually overheating.
SO obviously i immediately pulled over the first time this happened and switched the engine off expecting so be calling out the Auto mobile rescue guys but i switched the ignition on a minute later (not starting the engine just turning the ignition to position 2) and the temp gauge showed normal all systems ok! So i pop the bonnet and check the water level, all ok and slowly (with hands covered) release the expansion tank cap, only a normal amount of pressure release and the water is not boiling. Restart the engine all ok so i carry on only for it to happen 5 miles down the road, so i stopped the car again and switched the ignition off and on all reset all ok. It has done this a few times to me now and seems to be getting regular. So is it the temperature sensor? If so I'll be off to get one straight away. Seems strange though the car puts itself in safe mode nearly half a minute before anything happens with the temperature guage though and the car itself is not actually overheating.
#5
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Couple of ideas, if it is running hot while driving it could be a clogged radiator. At idle the water flow may be good enough to cool but under a load it may not be moving the water fast enough. Have you checked to see if the Cat is blocked or restricted? Look under the car after you have been driving and if the catalytic converter is glowing red you have a problem there. Best to look at night.
#6
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Hi thanks for the reply, I don't think it is a clogged radiator as the system resets itself almost immediately if i just switch the engine off and on. It happened again last night i was able to just quickly switch the engine off and on again while still on the move literally just turn the key to stop the engine and then start it again in neutral in less than 5 seconds and all was well for the rest of the journey.
But it has been getting more frequent so i think it is a faulty sensor but i am just guessing. I will check out the cat tonight as i am going on a trip then.
But it has been getting more frequent so i think it is a faulty sensor but i am just guessing. I will check out the cat tonight as i am going on a trip then.
#7
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#9
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Well after doing some more searching on here and some minor maintenance i can confirm that it is the thermostat that is the problem here. The problem i had was getting worse ie a lot more frequent and i knew the car wasn't actually overheating dramatically. So i replaced the Temperature sensor and still got the problem, so i done a complete flush of the coolant system engine and radiator and while i was doing this i had read about the thermostat being the problem so decided to check it while i had the cooling system in bits.
It was quite easy to get to and remove, and it did not seem to be clogged but on inspecting it, it fell apart!! the plastic lugs holding the actual thermostat in place failed it had several small cracks in it and these had led to the thermostat not being held correctly and gave it some free play therefore not opening properly. When i checked it's movement it decided it had had enough and one side of the lugs failed. Luckily as it was an all in one piece unit and i was able to remove the thermostat and replace the housing with out it. So i drove the Jag without a thermostat for about a week as my local Jaguar dealer could not get it quicker than this as there are only 2 suppliers for this part.
While driving the Jag for the week it ran extremely cool even on the dual carraigeways at speed but the problem did not go away even though the car was running cooler than ever, the problem still persisted.
So one week later got the new thermostat and popped it in and refilled the system with some lovely new coolant and deionised water. Since then the problem has never come back and the car runs great i have noticed the interior heater is also hotter than before so alsl well that ends well.
But the long story short it is the thermostat that is the issue here!!
It was quite easy to get to and remove, and it did not seem to be clogged but on inspecting it, it fell apart!! the plastic lugs holding the actual thermostat in place failed it had several small cracks in it and these had led to the thermostat not being held correctly and gave it some free play therefore not opening properly. When i checked it's movement it decided it had had enough and one side of the lugs failed. Luckily as it was an all in one piece unit and i was able to remove the thermostat and replace the housing with out it. So i drove the Jag without a thermostat for about a week as my local Jaguar dealer could not get it quicker than this as there are only 2 suppliers for this part.
While driving the Jag for the week it ran extremely cool even on the dual carraigeways at speed but the problem did not go away even though the car was running cooler than ever, the problem still persisted.
So one week later got the new thermostat and popped it in and refilled the system with some lovely new coolant and deionised water. Since then the problem has never come back and the car runs great i have noticed the interior heater is also hotter than before so alsl well that ends well.
But the long story short it is the thermostat that is the issue here!!
The following 2 users liked this post by Nemisis:
Geoff Collins (05-20-2023),
steveinfrance (12-29-2012)
#11
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I was on a trip to KC and my Jag started this exact thing. Dealer replaced the sensor worked fine for about a hundred miles then started up again. Had a shop in KC replace the thermostat and no problems since. My advice to anyone who has this issue, replace the thermostat first.
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Geoff Collins (05-20-2023)
#12
#14
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My 3L X-Type after driving about 20 to 30 miles, the engine management light comes on then after about 30 seconds the temp gauge rises to hot within about 10 seconds and I have to pull in.
After about a minute, I restart the car and the temperature is back to normal but the engine management light stays on.
After a few miles the same thing happens again.
I've replaced the temp switch but the same thing happens.
After about a minute, I restart the car and the temperature is back to normal but the engine management light stays on.
After a few miles the same thing happens again.
I've replaced the temp switch but the same thing happens.
#15
#17
#20
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Surely if there was a fault in the wiring it would permanently put the temp gauge in the red? It only happens after about 20 to 50 miles or so, then switching the engine off and back on again clears the fault? And if the fault is cleared, how would you test for a fault in the wiring?
Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how we get on with the problem.
Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how we get on with the problem.