Temperature problems.

[VladD]

We bought an 04 plate 1.8 petrol Freelander about a month ago and it has a strange problem that I don't understand. I'm going to take it back to the dealer to get it fixed, but I'd like to try and understand the problem first.

In general use the needle in the temperature gauge hardly ever rises off the bottom. We even drove from the Midlands all the way down to Devon a few weeks ago, on a very cold day, and the needle moved around a bit, but not much.

Trying to figure it out, I started it last weekend, turned of the A/C, radio etc, and left it running. Checked it 10 minutes later and the needle was sitting nicely at 12 o'clock. Then jumped in it and took it for a spin, and almost straight away the needle started falling and a couple of minutes later was back down to the bottom.

Does anyone have a clue why this could be happening?

[IroningMan]

Thermostat removed?

[FiF]

Or stuck partially open.

[VladD]

But surely once the engine is warm, the thermostat is open anyway, unless it's complete absence is the issue. I suppose I need to have a look to check that it's there.

[FiF]

I think that if the thermostat were completely missing it wouldn't warm up from cold just ticking over in ten minutes.

But you don't have cooling flow of air over the radiator when stationary.

When you start to move you do, but in cold weather the cooling effect is greater than needed, so the thermostat would close a little to reduce flow and cooling.

The temp gauge may be moving a little as the load on the engine increases / decreases.

Perhaps if were warmer weather you may get similar effect but higher readings.

That's purely my guess. It could be a temperature sender but I'd start with thermostat tbh.

[VladD]

Thanks. I'll take a look at the thermostat at the weekend.

[paintman]

Not unusual for the unscrupulous to remove a stat to mask overheating issues. As you've just got it from a dealer I suggest you refer it back to them to deal with under warranty.