Low Temperature Gauge - Need Advice.

[galaxy20]

i recently bought a 2.0 GLX galaxy 1996 petrol. Ive recently fixed a stalling problem by replacing the Idle control valve (AKA Air bypass valve) but also have a problem with my temperature gauge. i fitted a new sender unit today as i thought that was the problem, now the gauge is working but only reading a low temperature, about 1/4 right at the low end of normal when running, but if i stop in traffic for a few min's it will go to half way up or just over but then when i start driving again it works its way back to low normal reading.

 

is this correct?

 

i would assume it should sit happily about half way, what else do you suggest i check?

 

coolant is circulating as the heating is working so i'm guessing there is no blockages in the cooling system, possibly a stick thermostat? any ideas ??

[chromedome]

I think you are correct, thermostat stuck in the open position. Better than being stuck closed :)

[galaxy20]

Ill order a new thermostat tomorrow, do you think its still ok to drive as it is?

[chromedome]

Should be ok, may use slightly more petrol if the system thinks the car is running cold. Called the choke in the good old days. :)

[Beyond Help?]

A fiver says when he opens up the t'stat housing the t'stat will be missing!

[galaxy20]

A fiver says when he opens up the t'stat housing the t'stat will be missing!

 

LOL!

Ill let you know Tuesday when i get round to fitting it.

i bought a thermostat kit yesterday, new stat, sealing ring and gaskets from mills auto, cost me a few pennies of five quid. (bargain) :lol:

[me myself and I]

I had a 1997 2ltr Petrol.I did the very same thing.Temp gauge barely got up to 1/4 way but if I left it to idle it would go up to half way and the fan would cut in no probs.I did change the Thermo ( there was 1 in there already) and it made no difference.I even tried the thermo back to front just in case but no.I came to the conclusion that this is the way it should be and it was doing no harm.Figured that it was just ram air hitting the sensor and bringing the temp down.

[galaxy20]

A fiver says when he opens up the t'stat housing the t'stat will be missing!

 

well i got round to changing the stat yesterday, there was one already in there and it must have been sticking.

with the new stat in the temp gauge goes up and stays around the half way mark now, so its all looking good :wacko:

[sniper]

A fiver says when he opens up the t'stat housing the t'stat will be missing!

That's what I found on mine end of last year. The coolant temp gauge is virtually permanently off to the left, and only occasionally will it rise. But it never sits at 'normal'.

 

So I added a stat in the housing - presuming that the coolant was simply flowing all the time - but it doesn't seem to have changed anything, so maybe I should try the temp sensor.

 

In the pipework just behind the rad there is a metallic t-piece that looks like it *might* be a stat housing (I think I've read something somewhere that suggests it is) but as it was akward to get to I haven't taken it off yet. (I once took a coolant hose off while on holiday - i.e. only very basic toolkit - and then found the pipe clamp almost impossible to put back on! So now I think twice before dismantling coolant hoses. lol.)

 

Mine's a '98 Ford Galaxy Ghia 2.3L petrol, btw.

[marcostig]

ive a 2.3 mk2 themostat/housing is bolted to right side of engine on the head just under plug leads..made of plastic and crack with age.