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Technical First couple of issues

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Technical First couple of issues

The correct sender for you is a switch, so there should be no value across the switch until it gets to overheating temperature.

The one you have is giving a value all the time. You'd be able to test it with the heat from your fingers.

Cheers

D
 
OK, black sensor on the left is the one that was not working, was replaced by the one on the right, which gave the symptoms of dim water light which got slightly brighter as the engine got warmer.

Eurocar parts sold me one like this:

https://www.simpsonsupplies.co.uk/Sensors/Water_Temperature_Sensor__184_/COOLANT_TEMPERATURE_SENSOR_SI1001R_FIAT_2735.html

which still gave the symptoms of dim water light which got slightly brighter as the engine got warmer.

Engine does not appear to be overheating, so am thinking it may be a wiring issue now, any thoughts please?

Thanks
 

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Hi Nik, Nick here, I sold you the car. Sorry about the rusty water, but I have to blame yet another previous owner for that as I dropped the coolant at least twice and replaced with new 50/50 anti-freeze/water. I think some idiot had been running on plain water at some stage, it could do with a really good flush.

If it helps, the sensor came from Fiat and I supplied them the VIN so they *should* have supplied the correct part. The old sensor used to give a dim light about 6 months ago, it used to come and go, then it just gave up the ghost. The car has never shown any signs of overheating at all.

You can check some of your cars service history by going over my old posts!

Is the leak fixed now?

Hope she's running good, I miss the little tyke.
 
Nick600 said:
Hi Nik, Nick here, I sold you the car. Sorry about the rusty water, but I have to blame yet another previous owner for that as I dropped the coolant at least twice and replaced with new 50/50 anti-freeze/water. I think some idiot had been running on plain water at some stage, it could do with a really good flush.

If it helps, the sensor came from Fiat and I supplied them the VIN so they *should* have supplied the correct part. The old sensor used to give a dim light about 6 months ago, it used to come and go, then it just gave up the ghost. The car has never shown any signs of overheating at all.

You can check some of your cars service history by going over my old posts!

Is the leak fixed now?

Hope she's running good, I miss the little tyke.
Click to expand...

Hi Nick,

Thanks for that, yes the car is running fine it is just a little offputting that there is a warning light on on the dash all the time.

Leak was a rusty core plug, water pump seal was fine;)

Worked out what the noise from the back is, seems the powerflex bushes are squeeking. Have given them a good spray with WD40 to see if that shuts them up:D

Back to the sensor, if we assume fiat supplied the right one, why do you think the light is still coming on?

Cheers
 
Glad to hear it ;)

As the new one is giving the weird dim light, I think you can assume it's not the sensor. From what I understand of the system it's very simple. A bulb connected to a wire that is connected to a sensor, there isn't much to go wrong. That sensor is just for the dash, engine management, etc is handled by a different sensor. I think the sensor reads open circuit when cold, then resistance increases as the temperature goes up. If that's the case, unplugging the sensor should put the light on full brightness as that would be closed circuit. If i've got that right, you can rule out the sensor and start working out where connection is wonky.
 
When I take the lead off the sensor the light goes out, so am borowing my mate fluke to test the sensor tonight.

Could it be working OK, and the thermostat is not working properly allowing the car to get too hot:confused:
 
rallycinq said:
I still think its the sensor.

Take your meter to the sensor with a cup of warm water to hand. If you get any reading from the sender its a gauge sender.

Cheers

D
Click to expand...

Just had a crash course in switches and resistance by my mate, understand what you are saying now(y)

Sensor is for a gauge, I need one that switches the light on:D
 
I changed the thermostat already. The car was not overheating, even sitting in London traffic. Fan comes on when it should, all good.

That link looks like the sensor I gave you? I already tried the pan of water test with the old sensor and the resistance changed as it got hotter.
 
Nick600 said:
I changed the thermostat already. The car was not overheating, even sitting in London traffic. Fan comes on when it should, all good.

That link looks like the sensor I gave you? I already tried the pan of water test with the old sensor and the resistance changed as it got hotter.
Click to expand...

I think so to, they look the same.

So if the resistance changed on the original old sensor, surely this means it was for a gauge?

I would expect a switch to switch at a certain water temp??
 
Unless there is a switch further up the circuit somewhere that is waiting for a certain resistance to turn the light on?
 
Phoned these people

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Ricambio-International-Ltd

and the guy I spoke with knew straight away what I was talking about. He agreed it is a switch, but was puzzled it is not listed on the latest Fiat computer disc.

Anyway, went out the back and got one, its on its way to be fitted Saturday so hopefully we will be sorted(y)
 
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