Temperature gauge light flashing all the time.

[plastermaster]

Hi peeps, my temperature gauge light flashes all the time. Gauge works ok,
car doesn"t overheat and fan cuts in ok.

Anybody any ideas what might be causing this?

Thanks Steve.

[DannyH]

Check the water level it flashes to indicate low water level?

or dodgy sensor/connection

[ianaudia4]

I had this with my Storm, it was the connector that goes into the low coolant warning switch on top on the expansion tank.

[plastermaster]

Thanks for the quick replies fellas.

Ive checked coolant level, connections to sensor and removed sensor and cleaned it up
but light is still flashing so looks like ill need a new sensor.

Do GSF or ECP stock them?

[tgk711]

Did you fit a new sensor and if so did it cure the problem?

My gauge immediately swings to the right when I turn on the ignition and the red LED flashes, even when stone cold.

[PeteGLi]

Did you fit a new sensor and if so did it cure the problem?

My gauge immediately swings to the right when I turn on the ignition and the red LED flashes, even when stone cold.

Sounds like you might need a new sender in the top radiator hose flange.

But check your gauge using the FAQ section.

[the edmundator]

I have the same problem with my '82 GTI - the car is definitely not overheating and I get a normal reading from the needle in the temp gauge dial, but the red light flashes constantly. I've replaced the sensor/sender unit (as pictured) with a known good one from a GTX, which I presume is the same part (it looks it, and it works).

Am I right in thinking that there is nothing else in the sensor end of things that is likely to cause the light to flash, and that it's probably a problem with the gauge itself?

The '82 GTI doesn't have a sensor in the expansion tank.

[PeteGLi]

Isn't this the thermo time switch/sender, Ed? Not the coolant gauge.

[the edmundator]

Isn't this the thermo time switch/sender, Ed? Not the coolant gauge.

Erm... I'm working from Haynes... p.59... yes it looks like this might be the thermo switch at a second look. However, the manual also says that the temp. sender unit is "located in the hose connector on the spark plug side of the cylinder head." Perhaps this is different in 1.6 engines, as I can't see anything else that looks likely to be the sender in this location on my car.

[the edmundator]

I think this part with the yellow wire going to it is the temp gauge sender.



Does it control the LED and the needle in the gauge? Is it going to be the same as the one from a GTX? If so, I'll just swap it over and see what happens.

[PeteGLi]

I think this part with the yellow wire going to it is the temp gauge sender.

Does it control the LED and the needle in the gauge? Is it going to be the same as the one from a GTX? If so, I'll just swap it over and see what happens.

Yes. Probably the same.

See the FAQ's on how to check that the coolant temperature gauge itself is working properly

[the edmundator]

I've read the FAQ already and come to the conclusion that it would be easier to try a new sender if I already have one (which I do). Given that the dial is working properly, my suspicion is that the fault is at the LED end.