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can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:37 pm
by donkeychomp
Now as most of you know electrics are not my forte...but I have a suspicion my gauge isn't working properly. On a normal run the temp gets to half way and stays there but if I cane it it moves up to maybe 2/3rds of the way. As soon as I slow down or stop the needle goes back to the middle. Immediately. Any ideas?

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:11 pm
by Anton
Laser thermometer? Pretty sure they can be had on ebay for £5-10.

Otherwise, you could wire up a remote thermometer and see if it agrees with the temp guage.

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:37 pm
by Ju
To check your gauge you want to disconnect the sensor and put some resistance on it, I don't know what resistance equates to each temp on them mind. I expect it will be something else.

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:39 pm
by Jordi
donkeychomp wrote:
Thu Mar 28, 2019 11:37 pm
Now as most of you know electrics are not my forte...but I have a suspicion my gauge isn't working properly. On a normal run the temp gets to half way and stays there but if I cane it it moves up to maybe 2/3rds of the way. As soon as I slow down or stop the needle goes back to the middle. Immediately. Any ideas?
Isn’t that how temp gauges work? You have a normal running temp. When you flog them they warm up. When you go back to normal running they cool down again.

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 11:45 pm
by donkeychomp
Yeah but last summer it ran so hot I had to remove the stat. And now the sodding auto choke won't go down. Sitting at traffic lights ticking over at 1600rpm lol.

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2019 1:11 am
by Anton
Do you have an electric fan?

I know that a mate of mine had serious problems with heat in his Hilux, which went away with an electric fan.

That said, Toyota put the stat on the bottom of the engine, which never made sense to me.

Re: can you check if the temp gauge works ok?

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 6:30 pm
by ScottieJ
The Vitara temp sender is probably the wrong resistance for the LJ80 dials.

Either make an adpater to run an LJ80 sender or fit an aftermarket temp gauge.

It's not good to remove the thermostat, it has the very important job of regulating the engine temp, refit one and look to sort the cooling issue. If it actually has one, chances are the gauge is just reading wrong.

But if its reading correct then

Is there a cowling on the rad for the mechanical fan? If no then thats some of the issue.
How old is the radiator?