1999 Defender 2.5 TDI - Strange Temp Gauge Issue

[BeirutTaxi]

Hey everyone,

Wondering if someone could help me with an issue,

I've been loaned a Defender 2.5 TDI for a month, engine has been fine but today the needle randomly went into the red and then back to just below half way within 15 seconds.. kept driving and it did it again. After turning the car off the fan at the front stayed on for about 1 minute, that's even with the temp gauge showing normal temp.

I had a look in the coolant expansion tank and there is only a dribble in there, but then it is parked on a slope (which isn't in favour of the level in the expansion tank)

Added to that, I've had the heater on full whack the last couple of days, so the heater matrix has obviously had fluid pumping into it.

What do you guys think?

Should add that the only other driving condition that has changed is that I've been driving through a lot of water in the last few days!

Thanks,


M

[camel_landy]

You've probably got a crap earth connection.

Long story but essentially a poor earth to the engine will make temp reading do as you describe.

The way I cured it was to run an earth strap from the -ve on the battery to one of the starter motor mounting bolts.

M