Focus 2006 Temp Gauge Issue
Focus 2006 Temp Gauge Issue
Author
Discussion

p1stonhead

Original Poster:

29,284 posts

191 months

Monday 7th December 2015
quotequote all
Hi.

Hopefully someone may have an idea about whats going on with my Focus.

The temperature needle basically never rises above 60, i.e right at the bottom. Now from reading online it should, as most cars do, hit 90 (the middle) and pretty much stay there no matter what.

I have put the car into test mode where you can see a digital readout of the temperature and the car sits between 90 and 100 degrees depending on load, type of driving etc so I believe its actually running fine as this is where the temp should be expected to be.

I have also however, done the display test which includes a needle 'sweep' on all gauges and they all work.
So the needle can move when its told do by the test.

Would I be right in thinking its just not getting the correct signal from somewhere considering the car is actually getting up to temperature? Hot air comes out of the blowers etc and the car drives absolutely fine.

Thanks if anyone knows what this may be!

stevieturbo

17,987 posts

271 months

Monday 7th December 2015
quotequote all
OEM gauges are crap.

Some cars have a separate sensor just for the gauge, but by sounds of things your gauges are stepper motors so this is maybe less likely and either they use the ecu via a single sensor, or somehow also link to that ecu sensor.

But certainly an area to look at.

Penelope Stopit

11,209 posts

133 months

Monday 7th December 2015
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Is the Thermostat OK?

Peanut Gallery

2,667 posts

134 months

Tuesday 8th December 2015
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Does the internal heater work? - no hot air being blown, possibly an air-lock?

I have had all my gauges over reading by 20 ish degrees of angle once - so sitting stationary idling, I was doing about 20mph, idling at 2k rpm, temp was halfway to the red, but I was very happy with the fuel gauge. Everything reset after I turned off.

Another occasion (fixed under warranty) was while driving all the gauges dropped to zero, then the car went into limp mode. They eventually found a dry joint somewhere in the dash, took the dash out, sent it to someone who re-solders all the joints, then sends it back. It did not need re-setting regarding alarms and keys. - Possibly the gauge sweep test function uses a different connection in the dash to usual useage?

p1stonhead

Original Poster:

29,284 posts

191 months

Friday 11th December 2015
quotequote all
It was the thermostat. Thanks for the help smile