Temperature Gauge

[Nick_S]

Hi
My temp gauge seems to have a mind of its own! It is all over the place and now its just stock on the max temperature. It had been working fine and I don't think the car is running hot.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your help

Nick

[Brianmoooore]

Loose or missing brass nut on the back of the instrument cluster case makes it read higher than it should, but not normally as high as max.
A short circuit to earth of the wire from the brown sensor to the cluster will make the gauge read max.
A duff brown sensor is an unlikely possibility. These are much more reliable than the 'blue' sensor, and would more likely make the gauge read low if faulty.

[m_jermyn]

Hey Brian,

I went to do as you suggested bridge the terminals.. However They are not numbered they are lettered. Only the outside ones have the letters not the inside which is blank.

Any Suggestions?

[Brianmoooore]

Looked inside the cover? That's where the pin numbers are on UK E30s.
Otherwise, there's a diagram in the wiki.

[jkundi]

Sorry to jump on your thread, but mines been acting up of lately. Seems to have a mind of it's own and when it calms down its 1 quarter up or just below half. Could this be the same, before I pull out the cluster to check?

[Brianmoooore]

Sorry to jump on your thread, but mines been acting up of lately. Seems to have a mind of it's own and when it calms down its 1 quarter up or just below half.

Sounds like a classic description of the symptoms of a loose brass nut, but there's no guarantees!