Temp gauge is fluctuating?

  1. Established Member Joined: Sep 2009 Southampton, UK Posts: 1908 Po-Low.
    #1
    I was driving into hedge end, and i had used the car alot today.. around 200 miles.. anywho, i drove into mcdonalds and noticed i was up by 3/4.. so i quickly turned the hot fans on in an attempt to extract some heat, my fan was also wizzing away at this point.. eventually it dropped back to where it should be at just below half (generally after warming up it sits there)

    THEN on the way home from the mrss house i noticed every second glance the gauge would read a different temp, one dramatic change was from quater heat to just over half in no more than 5 seconds. i dont know if my radiator needs bleeding or something.. or maybe just a broken sensor.. but i can imagine its a trapped air issue..

    I HAVE used the search button but it showed up no answers to fluctuating. mainly overheating etc..

    I dont rag the shit out of my car
    nor do i ignor its needs.
    Its well looked after and i do check over brake, coolent power steering etc.. for drops and changes when i remember.

    Any advice would be great

    Cheers
  2. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2010 London Posts: 2768
    #2
    maybe see if any fault code pops up, if everything is fine its most likely just a dodgy connection behind the dash.
  3. Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Lurgan Posts: 767 2001 black saxo furio 2001 black saxo vts
    #3
    yeah after i fitted a 4-2-1 on my furio i didnt heat wrap it and the temp read maximum but the system was freezin and the fans werent on and it kep goin up and down lol
  4. Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 lincoln Posts: 163 Black saxo VTR
    #4
    mine does this pal, bled the water system and on the top bleed nipple and it stopped doing it but has gradually started again pal but going to bleed the system agaian as it used to go up to half then down to nowt, then back to below half then back down and it kept doing this going up and down eventually getting less and less till it reached running temp, and now it goes up to half like normal and then just over th line and back down just under so im going to bleed it again just to get any last air out of it.
    hope it helps pal, also i know its not a Citroen but my corsa b did the same and turned out it was the headgasket slowly on way out so bear that in mind check for signs of that going to pal if it is this it will be burning oil slightly and 'drinking water' aka water going through the gasket and down the bores and been burnt, that would be slight white smoke out the exhaust just keep eye on it pal keep me informed if you fix it pal
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  5. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Uppingham, Rutland Posts: 9569 mk1 JP4'd VTR, '16 Fabia Monte Carlo
    #5
    could be the temperature gauge sender unit sending inaccurate readings
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  6. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #6
    Try bleeding it 1st mine did this & it was the coolant temperature guage sensor on the thermostat that needed renewing(blue).

    Steve.
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  7. Established Member Joined: Sep 2009 Southampton, UK Posts: 1908 Po-Low.
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jafcc18 View Post
    mine does this pal, bled the water system and on the top bleed nipple and it stopped doing it but has gradually started again pal but going to bleed the system agaian as it used to go up to half then down to nowt, then back to below half then back down and it kept doing this going up and down eventually getting less and less till it reached running temp, and now it goes up to half like normal and then just over th line and back down just under so im going to bleed it again just to get any last air out of it.
    hope it helps pal, also i know its not a Citroen but my corsa b did the same and turned out it was the headgasket slowly on way out so bear that in mind check for signs of that going to pal if it is this it will be burning oil slightly and 'drinking water' aka water going through the gasket and down the bores and been burnt, that would be slight white smoke out the exhaust just keep eye on it pal keep me informed if you fix it pal
    I had a feeling it was trapped air..

    Definately not the head gasket, the rad is full of water and its all bone dry in there, no oil signs or anything.. And the exhaust runs a healthy clear colour until revved in which it goes white but to a realistic amout with a decat, so im not burning anything

    Will have to get the rad bled then, cheers all for the confirmation!