Temperature gauge sensor

[Nate]

if it's got a coolant level sensor, it means low coolant on most vws

[Reverend Frog]

It worked again this morning on my journey, stopped, then came back

my favourite - an intermittent problem.

but at least the gauge seems to be working.

[ianaudia4]

Give the terminal and spade a damn good clean up with emery cloth.

[the edmundator]

if it's got a coolant level sensor, it means low coolant on most vws

These weren't fitted until several years later.

[PeteGLi]

Cheers Tim,

this boyo here?

That is your Thermotime Switch - nothing to do with the coolant temperature gauge.

If you look on the right side of your engine block (looking from the front) you should find the temp sender - which takes a single female spade terminal - fitted into the flange connecting the cylinder head to one of the heater matrix hoses.

I cannot remember the colour of the wire, but it is either green/black or red/yellow.

[Reverend Frog]

Cheers Pete

i went out and found it - like you say a single red/yellow wire with a female spade connector sort of slid onto a little circular terminal.

The copper connectors were covered in blue-green corrosion, so I took it off, attacked with small wire brush, reattached

intermittent problem hopefully now cured

love how rudimentary these cars are - my engine bay is like a plate of spaghetti

no plastic covers in those days

[PeteGLi]

I usually replace the terminal with a new one, if the corrosion is bad. You sometimes have to strip back the insulation to find nice clean and shiny copper wire to crimp it to, though!

[Reverend Frog]

It was pretty light corrosion Pete. Came off no bother and the gauge has worked properly ever since. Thanks for the help