Temperature gauge not working properly

Tiny
BLAIR BIDDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 PEUGEOT EXPERT
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 200,000 MILES
Temperature gauge goes to zero and does not move any further even when I have run first least ten minutes minutes. Also the engine management comes on then of after running for some time.
Saturday, December 1st, 2018 AT 12:50 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
WILLIAM CRABTREE
  • MECHANIC
  • 95 POSTS
Hello,

A couple questions for you to help solve your issue.

First, is your engine coolant level topped off to manufacturer specifications? Next, when the car is running (after the ten minutes) do you have heat from the heater vents?

If the answer to both those questions is yes, then have you checked the coolant temperature sensor? Some cars have two. One of them would go to the engine's computer to regulate air/fuel mixture, and the other would go to your gauge in the dash.

The other option is that you could possibly have a bad gauge. That would be the last thing to address. Some vehicles pick up their data (even for that of temperature) from the temperature gauge.

Keep me posted on what you find and let me know if I can be any more help!

WIlliam
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Saturday, December 1st, 2018 AT 8:35 PM
Tiny
BLAIR BIDDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Yes, I have tried all these methods what I believe is the coolant sensor. When I remove the connector it goes straight to a red dot on the gauge tells me to stop engine but the gauge still does not move and this applies to both of the switches I found. Also, yes all the heating works in fact everything seems to be running smoothly for this vehicle, no black smoke not even blue smoke. The turbo takes a little time to come in but works fine as I said. Just a little worried about the gauge not working.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 AT 9:10 AM
Tiny
WILLIAM CRABTREE
  • MECHANIC
  • 95 POSTS
When the car is fully warmed up, open the hood and place your hand above the engine (but do not touch it). The engine should be a warm but not overly hot.

The red light most likely comes on due to the fact that the computer is not receiving a proper signal from the sensor.

Check the wires at the sensor (best you can) to see if there are any broken spots or anything exposed. If not, move on to the next step.

I would suggest to try a new coolant temp sensor. A new one costs about  15 from the research I have done. If this still does not fix it, you most likely have a bad motor in the gauge. So replacing the entire gauge assembly may be the easiest and most cost effective option.

Hope this helps!

William
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
BLAIR BIDDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for your help in this matter. I tried today about what you said in respect of engine and it did not seem to hot to me just nice really. However, I did notice the gauge started going minus zero then the management light went out on its own could it be that it has been wired the wrong way round? Only when I asked the person I bought it from he did not have a clue as to where things were. I even tried a resister a gross the terminals 1.25 ohms and the red light came on again.
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2018 AT 9:26 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
It sounds like you can have a bad computer. When the light comes it affects the gauge which sounds like a computer issue. I would try a used/rebuilt unit to see what happens.
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Saturday, December 8th, 2018 AT 12:51 PM
Tiny
BLAIR BIDDLE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I tried a different comp on it it gave the same result now what I have found is the switch terminals the green one was has been chopped or broken off. However, I cannot find a wire to attach it to, also the inside is like a plastic green connector so therefore only one wire is connected to the switch which looks white.
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Monday, December 10th, 2018 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 47,643 POSTS
The sensor is new with a different comp it just leaves the connections/wiring. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can see what is going on? That would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Monday, December 10th, 2018 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
BLAIR BIDDLE
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  • 5 POSTS
Sorry, I will reply to this but at the present I must go up north as my brother is gravely ill. Catch you later.
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Friday, December 21st, 2018 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Okay, I hope he gets better, let us know what happens.
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Saturday, December 22nd, 2018 AT 12:24 PM

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