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Technical Misbehaving temp. gauge + revs dipping in neutral (multijet)

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Technical Misbehaving temp. gauge + revs dipping in neutral (multijet)

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KozmoNaut

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My 2008 Multijet (mileage ~13500km) doesn't seem to like the current cold weather at all. On the cold start first thing in the morning, the temperature gauge shoots up to the maximum and lights up the warning light for a few seconds, then goes back to normal. It only does this when the engine is cold, never after a warm start or while driving. Is this something to be worried about? It has only started happening during these last few particularly cold weeks.

Also, I've gotten into the habit of going to neutral whenever I'm at a stop. If the engine is not yet warmed up, if I go to neutral before stopping and let the car roll with my foot off the clutch while braking for the stop, the revs sometimes dip to 4-500rpm a few times causing noticable vibration. This has been happening for a little while longer than the temp. gauge weirdness, but I reckon it's cold-related as well. It has not yet happened when putting the car in neutral after stopping. Again, is this something to be worried about?
 
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KozmoNaut said:
My 2008 Multijet (mileage ~13500km) doesn't seem to like the current cold weather at all. On the cold start first thing in the morning, the temperature gauge shoots up to the maximum and lights up the warning light for a few seconds, then goes back to normal. It only does this when the engine is cold, never after a warm start or while driving. Is this something to be worried about? It has only started happening during these last few particularly cold weeks.

Also, I've gotten into the habit of going to neutral whenever I'm at a stop. If the engine is not yet warmed up, if I go to neutral before stopping and let the car roll with my foot off the clutch while braking for the stop, the revs sometimes dip to 4-500rpm a few times causing noticable vibration. This has been happening for a little while longer than the temp. gauge weirdness, but I reckon it's cold-related as well. It has not yet happened when putting the car in neutral after stopping. Again, is this something to be worried about?
Click to expand...

Not you as well..:bang:

Happened twice with me in the last week or so and the second time yesterday..contacted fiat and its booked in Fri for diagnostic..three months warranty left on mine now :devil:

Turn on ignition gauge goes up to Max.. if I try and start her she wont idle but the engine will fire..hold foot down on loud pedal until it runs sound like its over fueling first then it clears..maybe goes for a week or so before it comes back again [second time for me]..seems to happen in the lower temperatures..I'm thinking maybe open circuit on temp sensor..tried to find the temp sensor :doh: cant find it ..:shrug:just put it down to my age..:D
 
HP: Thanks, I'll check out everything I can handle myself today.

PNL: Mine starts just fine, the temp gauge swings to full after the engine starts.

It's coming up to its 1 year service very soon, so I'll have it checked out then. It's only happened 3 times so far, and it runs brilliantly otherwise, but we'll see what they figure out.

EDIT: Could it perhaps be a slight bit of water in the fuel filter? I know there's a way of draining out water from it, but how is this done? The manual isn't very helpful on this particular subject.
 
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KozmoNaut said:
...if I go to neutral before stopping and let the car roll with my foot off the clutch while braking for the stop, the revs sometimes dip to 4-500rpm a few times causing noticable vibration.
Click to expand...
Mine does that sometimes too. We'll see if it stops when the EGR valve is replaced.
 
KozmoNaut said:
HP: Thanks, I'll check out everything I can handle myself today.

PNL: Mine starts just fine, the temp gauge swings to full after the engine starts.

It's coming up to its 1 year service very soon, so I'll have it checked out then. It's only happened 3 times so far, and it runs brilliantly otherwise, but we'll see what they figure out.

EDIT: Could it perhaps be a slight bit of water in the fuel filter? I know there's a way of draining out water from it, but how is this done? The manual isn't very helpful on this particular subject.
Click to expand...

Sorry, can't help on how to drain but water in the fuel shouldn't cause the temperature gauge to rise.
 
My Multijet has a warning light for water in the fuel filter. Does yours not have this?
 
From what i remember from a similar post on the Grande Punto section

there are 2 main things to check

a body computer update to patch the software relation to the temperature gauge readings

and

Clean all earth posts and battery terminals especially the one that goes to the engine/starter/gear box,

the Temp gauge works with a bit of reverse thinking by fiat along the lines of...

(not exact figures but they are something like this:

12V = cold
9v =luke warm
8v = normal
6v = hot
5v= overheat

so when you start the car the draw from the starter knocks the voltage to all other circuits down

(start the car with the headlights on in mar and they will dim when the starter kicks in)

so you get a lower voltage from the battery which in the temp sensors case can only return to the body computer 5V at that moment of starting, so a bad earth can contribute to this (y)


(thats how i understood it and am happy to be proved wrong}
 
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Andy Monty got it right..(y) same on the panda ..its a software update needed..just come back from the dealer with a big smile on my face..IE.. no charge cos its still in warranty..:slayer:Just..

Might be worth putting this up as a sticky for future reference..
 
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I thank thee from the bottom of my heart :worship:

I'll be sure to ask for the software update on the next service.
 
KozmoNaut said:
I thank thee from the bottom of my heart :worship:

I'll be sure to ask for the software update on the next service.
Click to expand...


I had the same problem last winter with the temperature gauge shooting up to max and the car struggling to start. As soon as it started the temp gauge would drop to normal. I had the software update at the dealer and all went well.

In the past week however the same problem has arisen during the very cold weather, the temp gauge goes to max, the car struggles to start. Once itstarts though the temp gauge goes back to normal. Its done this evry day for the past 10 days or so.

This morning however it was milder and the car started as normal. Any thoughts on what maty be causing this

Stewart
 
Just got the car back from the dealer who advises that this was caused by an airlock in the coolant system. Although I do not know a great deal about cars this sounds like a lot of boll**ks. The collant system is sealed so how could an airlock get in and why did this only happen during the very cold days. As soon as it was milder no issues

Stewart



smc4761 said:
I had the same problem last winter with the temperature gauge shooting up to max and the car struggling to start. As soon as it started the temp gauge would drop to normal. I had the software update at the dealer and all went well.

In the past week however the same problem has arisen during the very cold weather, the temp gauge goes to max, the car struggles to start. Once itstarts though the temp gauge goes back to normal. Its done this evry day for the past 10 days or so.

This morning however it was milder and the car started as normal. Any thoughts on what maty be causing this

Stewart
Click to expand...
 
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