Hi there
I've a new FIAT - a Brava 100 16v auto, unusually with air-con. Registered May 2000 on a "W", built Feb 2000 according to ePer.
Rather odd goings-on today after sitting in traffic - the temperature gauge shot up from its usual mid-point to nearly the end stop - too quickly to be reporting actual overheating. Accompanied by the idle speed going up to about 1300 rpm every now and then about the same time. Fan cutting in and out in what seemed to be a normal-ish manner (though maybe a bit less frequently than I would expect - but don't know the car very well yet). Switching off and on again would cure the gauge problem for a while, with it going back to its normal mid-point immediately. And no evidence under the bonnet of any actual overheating going on.
I presume this is a coolant temperature sensor problem (intermittent shorting perhaps), with replacement being the solution. Am I right in thinking my car only has one for both the gauge and the ECU, and that the rad fan is switched via the ECU (or is there a separate switch for the fan - though I can't find one...)? Also presume I can just switch the sensor with the ignition off, and don't need to worry about resetting the ecu, or allowing it to do some self-learning routine?
Any comments gratefully received...
Thanks!
Nick Haigh
Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio
Brava 100 16v auto
Rochester, Kent
I've a new FIAT - a Brava 100 16v auto, unusually with air-con. Registered May 2000 on a "W", built Feb 2000 according to ePer.
Rather odd goings-on today after sitting in traffic - the temperature gauge shot up from its usual mid-point to nearly the end stop - too quickly to be reporting actual overheating. Accompanied by the idle speed going up to about 1300 rpm every now and then about the same time. Fan cutting in and out in what seemed to be a normal-ish manner (though maybe a bit less frequently than I would expect - but don't know the car very well yet). Switching off and on again would cure the gauge problem for a while, with it going back to its normal mid-point immediately. And no evidence under the bonnet of any actual overheating going on.
I presume this is a coolant temperature sensor problem (intermittent shorting perhaps), with replacement being the solution. Am I right in thinking my car only has one for both the gauge and the ECU, and that the rad fan is switched via the ECU (or is there a separate switch for the fan - though I can't find one...)? Also presume I can just switch the sensor with the ignition off, and don't need to worry about resetting the ecu, or allowing it to do some self-learning routine?
Any comments gratefully received...
Thanks!
Nick Haigh
Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio
Brava 100 16v auto
Rochester, Kent