Temperature Gauge problems Mk1 Golf

**sparkie** · 19-10-2005, 09:56 PM

Where should the temperature gauge be on a Mk 1 Golf diesel? In the hot weather the guage went right up and I lost some cooling fluid. I have since sorted the leak but the engine gets pretty hot on some of the hills around here, rather than the guage staying at 12 o'clock it sometimes climbs to about 1.30! It looks to me as if the temperature guage should really be at about 11 o'clock, but even coming home tonight in cooler weather it seemed pretty high.

Where should I start looking to improve cooling

Also any ideas on why my glow-plug indicator lamps don't work on the dash - how do you get the dash front off anyway? The heating controls are not lit up at night so I'm trying to see if there are blown globes in there

imported_brackie · 20-10-2005, 06:32 AM

Temp. guage should be in the middle. Do the usual overheating checks. Thermostat (take it out and see if it solves the problem...but don't forget to replace it if it doesen't!), pressure cap, and then get the radiator cleaned out id necessary. Make sure the thermofan is working when it should. If you suspect the guage or sender borrow a 0-110 degree thermometer and check the temp. at the expansion tank. Should be below 95 degrees. Are the glowplugs working? Or is it just the light?

**sparkie** · 22-10-2005, 04:03 PM

I went out for the day yesterday, and the guage went up and down quite a bit almost unpredictably and by the end I had lost all of the fluid in the expansion tank, just now I refilled it and went out for a small trip, and the expasion tank lid is leaking fluid. I have tightened all the other hoses, so there is no other leaks. The fan works when connected to the battery, but I don't know whether it works under normal circumstances.

What do I try next

Paul

imported_brackie · 22-10-2005, 04:38 PM

You get a thermometer. Start her from cold and leave the pressure cap off. Let her warm up without driving and occasionally race the motor to speed the warming up and circulate the coolant. Have the thermometer in the expansion tank all of the time. If you can get an assistant have them watch the temp. gauge as you read the thermometer. Your thermometer shouldn't go past 95 degrees. If it does, suspect a blocked radiator.

**gldgti** · 23-10-2005, 10:15 AM

to get the dash panel off, reach behind and unclip the light switch unit, dash panel wiring harness and brakelight/park brake light cluster. unscrew speedometer cable from the back of the speedo. if you have a radio installed in the factory position, remove it. now remove the hazard light swith, and rear demister switch, and anything else clipped to the dash panel insert. (your heater control lighting is a single globe on the right of the heater control cluster which has an eatch and +12V wire connected to it - it's highly likely one of these wires has dropped off.

once your radio is removed, look inside the cavity behind the radio to the right and up. you will find your dash panel insert in mounted against a steel dash mounting bracket here which is connected to the rest of the dash. there is one single screw and washer at this point, and with a short screwdriver you should be able to undo this screw. once done, remove the heater control knobs and blower fan control knob.

now you shold be able to pull the dash panel insert out of the dash to work on. it may require a small amount for force to get it free of your dash, so be mindful of ths when removing it as not everyones dash panels are in good condition it may be necessary to be very careful so you dont break parts of it off!

good luck.

aydan

**sparkie** · 23-10-2005, 12:29 PM

I have done as suggested with the thermometer, it took very little time (5 min) for water and foam (steam?) to come back into the expansion tank and the top of the radiator to feel warm, but the large bottom hose on the radiator was still stone cold as was the tappet cover. After 5 more minutes, maybe a bit more the thermostat obviously opened and the bottom hose warmed up, but by this time the water in the expansion tank was really heating up. I would say after not much more than 10 min the water was up to 115 degrees! The electric fan did not come on at all, even though I know the fan works.

Thanks for the info about the dash removal. Through contortion I managed to replace the glow plug light on the dash, but it still does not come on even though the relay clicks on ignition start-up. The oil light globe above was bust, though so it was worth my while. I checked the glow plugs, I even removed two out of four, the two I removed were in perfect nick and glowed well, I tested the others in the block and they drew current. I cleaned up the earth (did the headlighs at the same time) and I reckon the start-up is better, but I still wish the glow-plug light would go on as I am guessing how long to glow for before starting. Next I think I'll replace the glow relay unless I can follow the feed wire from the relay and get a voltage off it.

Learning a lot about the car, though!

imported_brackie · 23-10-2005, 07:10 PM

Try the process again with the thermosat out. Sounds like it isn't opening properly.

Glow plug light could be the relay. I may have a spare somewhere here. Do you want to try it?