Oil temp gauge all over the place

[Paul.]

Can someone help me here please. i was out in the car last night and usually when i turn the car on the gauge (one next to petrol gauge) takes around 5mins to work its way to EXACTLY in the middle once the car is warmed up. It did this last night , however as soon as it reached its usually point midway it fell to around a quarter. After staying at that level it just began moving all over the place. Does the oil need topped up or is this something else??????:S

 

[Turner]

sounds like a dodgey sensor tbh
but im not qualified enough to be 100%

 

[Luke.]

its coolant temp mate not oil!

could possibly be a dodgy sensor!

 

[Chrisjk]

That does sound like the sensor, they are about £30 from renault. I have a similar issue but my dial doesn't move, it flicks about 1mm up and down but thats it

 

[Paul.]

lol ive really no got a clue about cars. ^^yea after a while it sort of settled at a quarter then moved up and down bout a mm like you said. so you think its a fault with a sensor??

 

[Chrisjk]

Does it go back to the bottom when the engine is off?

 

[Paul.]

yes

 

[bmh.01]

Its coolant temp and its a fecked coolant temp sensor. Common thing, cheap and easy to fix.

 

[Paul.]

Its coolant temp and its a fecked coolant temp sensor. Common thing, cheap and easy to fix.

Done some searching on here and found alot of threads on it. (apologies - should have done a search before making this thread) All the symptoms seem to point at the temp sensor or wiring needing replaced.

Phoned my local dealer today to ask if they had a better idea of the fault and they said theyve worked on loads and loads of 182s and never heard of such a problem. Completely useless. Ive got a part number for the sensor so just need it fitted.

 

[Chrisjk]

Should be fine once its changed, i know for a fact my dial is funked, it only spins one way lol.