Engine tempature gauge problem

Sauce

This morning when I was driving to work I noticed the engine tempature gauge kept jumping from 0 to its normal reading and back to 0. My car is booked in for a service in 2 weks time and I was wondering is this anything much to worry about.

davidoco

Firstly I hope you not driving a Fiat Punto

It could just be a faulty thermostat. If you ever see the gauge acting funny turn on the heater full blast on hot in the car, is there is cold air coming out you have a problem with your cooling system and you must stop and have someone look at the car.

crosstownk

I'd imagine there is something wrong withe either the guage or the temperature sender unit. It's unlikely that the temperature is fluctuating that erratically.

Sauce

I drive a peugeot 307.
What damage could be could driving on a faulty thermostat do?

After driving a while the gauge seemed to stop jumping up and down and stayed at its proper position.

zuutroy

Driving with a faulty thermostat is harmless enough. Fuel economy will suffer, and your heater wont work properly. Sounds like it could be partially sticking. It's the first thing to check, and a new one will only cost €10

davidoco

Hey interesting concidence I drive a 01 307 2.0 HDI and late last year while in the UK the gauge did the old wild bouncing around business.

It was a faulty thermostat but what was happening was that the engine wasn't cooling property when stopped in traffric. Turn the engine on and leave it running on standstill to see if the gauge slowly creeps up past half way (can't remember the temp) if it does and the fan doesn't come on you have a problem but thankfully straight forward for a garage to replace the stat.

I was able to drive home but I made sure to turn the engine off when stopped in traffic.

crosstownk

Sauce wrote:

This morning when I was driving to work I noticed the engine tempature gauge kept jumping from 0 to its normal reading and back to 0. My car is booked in for a service in 2 weks time and I was wondering is this anything much to worry about.

Is it jumping or is slowly creeping up as davidoco described? If its jumping its more indicative of an electrical fault.

If your unsure do as davidoco says and turn off the engine when stationary.

Sauce

crosstownk wrote:

Is it jumping or is slowly creeping up as davidoco described? If its jumping its more indicative of an electrical fault.

If your unsure do as davidoco says and turn off the engine when stationary.

It jumps. It hasn't gone over it normal position when the engine heats up. It just goes from here back to 0 and back again.

crosstownk

Sauce wrote:

It jumps. It hasn't gone over it normal position when the engine heats up. It just goes from here back to 0 and back again.

In that case it sounds like an electrical fault to me - possibly your temp sender. If it is it shouldn't be that much to repair.

Avns1s

Sauce wrote:

This morning when I was driving to work I noticed the engine tempature gauge kept jumping from 0 to its normal reading and back to 0. My car is booked in for a service in 2 weks time and I was wondering is this anything much to worry about.

How quick are your "jumps". If its very quick, like a few seconds, then I agree with crosstownk. If it's slower, then likely a faulty thermostat, in which case you should get it sorted quickly coz if it sticks and the car overheats you could be facing a big bill.

zuutroy

Avns1s wrote:

in which case you should get it sorted quickly coz if it sticks and the car overheats you could be facing a big bill.

90% of the time they stick open, which means there's no danger of overheating

Sauce

The jumps happen quickly.

I have my car booked in for a service in 2 weeks time. Will it be okay until then?

Avns1s

zuutroy wrote:

90% of the time they stick open, which means there's no danger of overheating

Agreed, but what about the other 10%.....:rolleyes: