Temperature gauge problem

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psquiddy
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Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Sat May 19, 2012 7:21 pm

I have swapped my 96 diesel for a 2002 2.0 with lpg - which is great, apart from a problem with the temperature gauge.

It does not register at all, remaining below zero while I am driving - not even a flicker.

However, when I stop and turn the engine off, but leave the key in the ignition (switched to on, but with engine stopped) the gauge starts to move and goes up to the normal running position.

Restart the engine and it goes back to less than zero.

Any suggestions?
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Nicko1958 » Sat May 19, 2012 8:01 pm

I had the same problem and just changed the temp sender unit, it's been ok ever since.

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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by haydn callow » Sat May 19, 2012 9:40 pm

the 2 liter does run very cool
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psquiddy
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Mon May 21, 2012 6:38 pm

Thanks - sender ordered.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by peterrc » Mon May 21, 2012 7:27 pm

psquiddy wrote:I have swapped my 96 diesel for a 2002 2.0 with lpg - which is great, apart from a problem with the temperature gauge.

It does not register at all, remaining below zero while I am driving - not even a flicker.
However, when I stop and turn the engine off, but leave the key in the ignition (switched to on, but with engine stopped) the gauge starts to move and goes up to the normal running position.

Restart the engine and it goes back to less than zero.

Any suggestions?
Hi I am new to Bongoland but if the sender is working in one position I would say that it is getting a supply from the wrong scource. I will be surprised if a new sender cures it.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Northern Bongolow » Tue May 22, 2012 4:12 am

has the speedo been chipped.
psquiddy
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Tue May 22, 2012 10:13 am

The speedo works in mph, but the odometer in km
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by rita » Tue May 22, 2012 10:29 am

Hi psquiddy,


What does the gauge do if you earth the sender wire.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by g8dhe » Tue May 22, 2012 10:58 am

Its not just heat soak is it? When the engine is stopped there is no pumping so the temperature will go up, causing the reading to rise, if you leave it long enough it may well go back down again ? I wonder if the thermostat is present / working ?
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by tonnee » Tue May 22, 2012 12:13 pm

I had the same problem on mine wwhen I bought it, the temp gauge never rose at all while driving, but if stood idling for 10 to 15 mins it would rise, then drop again as soon as you started driving.

My problem was no thermostat.

New thermostat fitted and all working OK now
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psquiddy
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Tue May 22, 2012 4:35 pm

I wonder if the thermostat is present / working ?
Is there some way of checking?
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by peterrc » Tue May 22, 2012 4:59 pm

psquiddy wrote:
I wonder if the thermostat is present / working ?
Is there some way of checking?
I would think that if it is not present the bottom hose would start to warm fairly quickly.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by psquiddy » Tue May 22, 2012 6:51 pm

What does the thermostat actually do?

I have driven it for over an hour on the motorway without problems - I would have thaught that if there was a thermostat problem it would have overheated.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by g8dhe » Tue May 22, 2012 9:38 pm

The thermostat on a Bongo measures the temperature of the the coolant at the engine and if it is above 82C it allows extra cool coolant to be added to the flow from the radiator thus keeping the engine at a reasonably fixed temperature. Some owners of Bongo's have found that garages have "fixed" over heating problems by removing the thermostat thus allowing cold coolant to always flow into the the system whether needed or not! However once the engine is turned off the water pump stops and the heat in the engine is left to raise the temperature of the coolant thus causing a normally brief rise in temperature whilst the engine looses heat from simple radiation rather than being removed by the coolant.
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Re: Temperature gauge problem

Post by Simon Jones » Tue May 22, 2012 10:03 pm

psquiddy wrote:
I wonder if the thermostat is present / working ?
Is there some way of checking?
Quick test to see if one is present, squeeze the top hose and you should hear a click which is the little bead which acts as a bypass valve. It's 100% guaranteed as it has been known for some thermostats to be mod'ed to remove the centre core which leaves the outer section and the little bead in place.
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