Temp Guage going wild + loss of power

[mrsp_182]

on my 182. Just got back off holiday and driving around to my relatives then suddenly the accelaration goes (foot to floor and we're creeping along) and the temp guage is bouncing from cold to high very erraticly BUT no warning lights came on...

The fault itself seems very similar to when the car went into "limp home mode" with the warning light on in March this year, and the coil pack was changed under warranty.

Any ideas as to what this fault could be? up to now it's just happened the once and I'm just nervous that it's gonna happen again. I think if i take it to the dealer they'll just fob me off, and i cant prove anything's wrong as no warning lights have come on

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

I know this is the obvious question, but have you checked your water level?

 

[J203425]

dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but my gf's car was doing this - temp gauge boucing from normal to full and back again constantly. Turned out to be the head gasket - hot oil was mixing with the coolant and causing the temp fluctuations. Could be something else just thought id mention it.

 

[mrsp_182]

I'm not overly concerned as it's under warranty til June next year, but it's just more hassle.

I havent looked under the bonnet since i got back from hol (yes dumb blonde bint) so will double check water level but cant think why it would be without when it was checked the week we went away.

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but my gf's car was doing this - temp gauge boucing from normal to full and back again constantly. Turned out to be the head gasket - hot oil was mixing with the coolant and causing the temp fluctuations. Could be something else just thought id mention it.

If this is the case, it's an easy one to diagnose (expensive to fix though unfortunatly).

Open your oil filler cap and look to see if there are what look like soap-suds on the top of the oil. A tiny amount or none, means its something else. lots means, yep, water in your oil and Head Gasket blown.

 

[mrsp_182]

dont want to be the bearer of bad news, but my gf's car was doing this - temp gauge boucing from normal to full and back again constantly. Turned out to be the head gasket - hot oil was mixing with the coolant and causing the temp fluctuations. Could be something else just thought id mention it.

If this is the case, it's an easy one to diagnose (expensive to fix though unfortunatly).

Open your oil filler cap and look to see if there are what look like soap-suds on the top of the oil. A tiny amount or none, means its something else. lots means, yep, water in your oil and Head Gasket blown.

But surely a blown head gasket is covered under warranty? The cars only done 15k and is under warranty til June 2008

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

Depends on what it is. Head Gasket blowing can be due to lack of oil, hard driving from cold, excessive revving (bouncing off the red-line), or just mechanical failure. I hate to say it, but the chances of the garage choosing the last option is remote.

 

[J203425]

If this is the case, it's an easy one to diagnose (expensive to fix though unfortunatly).

Open your oil filler cap and look to see if there are what look like soap-suds on the top of the oil. A tiny amount or none, means its something else. lots means, yep, water in your oil and Head Gasket blown.

But surely a blown head gasket is covered under warranty? The cars only done 15k and is under warranty til June 2008

I would imagine it will be. As monkey beast says it only takes two seconds to check. If it's only done 15k I would imagine the headgasket will be cool its strange though cnt think of anything else which would cause power loss AND temp fluctuations.

 

[Dan 172]

I think it could be something simple like the water temp sensor, a few have failed in that way.

As when you car in hot and the needle drops down, it will try to run the car as its cold and vice versa, so lose of power.

 

[mrsp_182]

But surely a blown head gasket is covered under warranty? The cars only done 15k and is under warranty til June 2008

I would imagine it will be. As monkey beast says it only takes two seconds to check. If it's only done 15k I would imagine the headgasket will be cool its strange though cnt think of anything else which would cause power loss AND temp fluctuations.

I think the loss of power may have been the ECU putting the car into "limp home mode" where you cannot rev above 3k rpm. I'll go and scrape my hands under the bonnet at lunch time just to double check.... I think if it was a blown head it would do it all the time wouldnt it? (it was running fine yesterday)

 

[Mark5290]

Sounds like it needs a new temp sensor fitted under warranty.

 

[mrsp_182]

Thanks for your replies oil and water look fine and dandy water being at maximum oil looks oily so dont think it's the head thats gone.

If the temp sensor is a common fault i'd go with that, its just proving it to the chimps at the dealers without them keeping my car for weeks of endless test drives like last time :boring:

 

[Dan 172]

Thanks for your replies oil and water look fine and dandy water being at maximum oil looks oily so dont think it's the head thats gone.

If the temp sensor is a common fault i'd go with that, its just proving it to the chimps at the dealers without them keeping my car for weeks of endless test drives like last time :boring:

It's not an expensive job, so they should do it without to much fuss.

 

[edde]

Its a temp sensor they fail loads only cheap to replace.