Temp gauge

[falconer]

HI
Could anyone help me with this one,
took her for a run today and noticed temp gauge going to half way and back down agaian i don't think its the fan kicking in
if i knock on the clock glass you can see it move slightly any ideas
fed up @ mo seems to be one thing after another.

[da SLUG man]

thermostat opening?... lets cool water from rad in, thermostat closes again... warms up, opens again... should steady after driving for a while?

[marky]

Check that there is water at the top when rad cap removed.

[falconer]

Check that there is water at the top when rad cap removed.

Fast response m8 gr8
but water at the top of what and where is the rad cap
never done any work under any bonet of any car YET

[da SLUG man]

Fast response m8 gr8
but water at the top of what and where is the rad cap
never done any work under any bonet of any car YET

probably best to get it taken to a garage then!

but you know what the radiatior is?... right??

when the engine is cool, check the water level (like on any other car as part of your daily check!)

[falconer]

probably best to get it taken to a garage then!

but you know what the radiatior is?... right??

when the engine is cool, check the water level (like on any other car as part of your daily check!)

Yeah
checked water level the other day it was fine
just didn't understand what marky was on about??

[da SLUG man]

um... exactly what he said... check there's water to the top with the rad cap removed!... i.e. the radiator is full...

also check the expansion bottle level is between max and min marks and the pipe is correctly positioned in the coolant

[falconer]

um... exactly what he said... check there's water to the top with the rad cap removed!... i.e. the radiator is full...

also check the expansion bottle level is between max and min marks and the pipe is correctly positioned in the coolant

Ok found rad cap,
un-screwd it and water in there,
checked expansion tank and the level is on max
so temp gauge doing as you suspected in your previous post i hope.

[marky]

The TEMP sender unit is located in the casting that the Rad-cap is attached to. If that area was dry you would get daft readings.

[falconer]

The TEMP sender unit is located in the casting that the Rad-cap is attached to. If that area was dry you would get daft readings.

Thanks marky
would it be poss for you to put a pic up so i can see what you are gettin at m8
and what i need to do
i'll have a go but i'm no mechanic remember so any help is very much apreciated bud

[marky]

As you have water at the rad-cap it rules out what i was getting at

[falconer]

As you have water at the rad-cap it rules out what i was getting at

good at least i know its ok
but forgot to mention it was dirty rusty colour does that matter??

[Simon.O.]

good at least i know its ok
but forgot to mention it was dirty rusty colour does that matter??

Very much so.
My suggestion is that you give it a good flush and refill with proper coolant.
There is much discussion on which coolant is best and I'll leave those reccomendations to the locals, I am in NZ
Personally I use castrol "green" coolant in mine and have no worries.