Temperature gauge problem

[Sue]

Hi All
Need advice about a Temperature gauge problem I seem to be having with my bravo.Up untill a week ago my temperature gauge had always stayed at roughly the same level (just above halfway ) but i was coming home from a long run last weekend when the gauge shot to the top for a few minites. I stopped for a while and then began driving again and it fell back to the usual position for a while. Then it started going towards the top ,i kept driving and it fell back down to the usual position all of the rest of the way home. Since then I've only done short distances and sometimes the gauge goes to the top for a while and at other times it is absolutly fine.occasionally when i start the engine from cold the gauge will go to the top straight away whilst other times from this situation it will show it's regular position. So basically it seems to be totally inconsistant. i presume it's some kind of instrumentation fault but I don't really know much about these things and was wondering if anyone out there has any ideas as to the cause.
Cheers
Sue

 

[Tom]

Age and model bravo?

 

[Dan]

this may sound stupid but, when it does it again smack the dash firmly over where the gauge is. it should then go back down to normal position.
mine does this, I think its a bad connection on the back
if it doesnt, something is seriously wrong
Dan

now sporting my badger badger badger t-shirt

 

[Sue]

Bravo 80 1.2S W reg
oh and yes the coolant has been kept topped up.

 

[Sue]

when you say serious how serious do you mean ?

 

[Ozric-Al]

Mine did the "straight to the top from startup" once but the fuel gauge also went to the top as well. Stopped and started again and never had the problem since.

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[Tom]

Do you need to top it up regularly?

 

[Sue]

mine seems to be totally inconsistant at the mo.I can't understand how it can go to the top of the gauge at start up as the engine surely can't get that hot so quickly.But then after a few miles it usually comes back down to it's usual position.then sometimes it will stay there and other times it fluctuates up n down.

 

[Sue]

hi Tom
in answer to your question.
Do you need to top it up regularly?
No not that I'm aware of.
Why ?

 

[Ozric-Al]

Exactly. Must be a binnacle fault if it's doing that.

When you say the coolant is always topped up, is it losing water?

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[Tom]

It might have a leak if you are topping it up regularly.

Next time the guage shoots up put the heater on and see if hot air comes out.

 

[Sue]

ozric
to my knowlege it is not losing water.
and what is a binnacle fault exactly?
and if it is a binnacle fault is the car still ok to drive?
as I said before I don't know much about cars, what with being female n all !

 

[Ozric-Al]

Sorry Sue. Binnacle is another name for the instrument panel (dials).

As you can see from Dans post and mine that this does happen every now and then. BlackBravo has a similar problem as well with his dials.

If you are not topping it up regularly and it doesn't overheat ALL the time then I would think it's most likely a faulty binnacle.

Just keep an eye on the water level, check for the tell-tale "mayo" on the oil cap and as Tom says, see if the heater works.

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[sue]

havent had time to try it yet but what will it tell us if the heater doesnt work ? Oh and I've just been outside and checked the coolant level and it is still topped up to maximum .which is were I filled it up to last week so no leaks.

 

[sue]

also No Mayo inside the oil cap could be found. Crap I've got oil all over my Keyboard NOw !

 

[Ozric-Al]

If it's overheating and the heater doesn't work then the water is moving through the system.

Could point to faulty thermostat or an airlock which needs sorting sooner rather than later as you could end up damaging the engine.

Also, when it gets hot check to see if the fan cuts in. If it doesn't then it's once again pointing to no water moving around.

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[Ozric-Al]

Sorry, that first line should read "then NO water is moving round the system".

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[sue]

O.k.
I'll take it in to my local garage and get them to check it over asap.
Thanks for all the advice,and I'll log back in and tell you what the garage said about it.
Cheers Guys