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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Dieseleo on November 12, 2007, 02:29:03 pm

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: Dieseleo on November 12, 2007, 02:29:03 pm

My temp gauge maxes out and blinks even when the engine is still cold, and the car won't start when it gets below forty degrees outside. I don't know if these things are related or not. It's an 86 Golf. The gauge seemed to work fine when it was warm outside, and after the car runs for a while it corrects itself and reads at the normal operating temp. The glow plugs are good, I think the fuel lines and injectors are fine. There's a little white smoke when trying to start but not a cloud or anything that bad. I don't get much heat out of the blowers either. My Bentley says something about a sending unit that could be screwed up, but then doesn't say anything about what it is or how to replace it. Winter's coming, and I just got a job, so I need this little #&*@! to start dependably. Any suggestions?

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: jtanguay on November 12, 2007, 05:12:25 pm

how's the coolant level?  maybe you have a hg leak?

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: Dieseleo on November 13, 2007, 05:11:10 am

coolant level's fine, that's not it.

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: saurkraut on November 13, 2007, 06:26:30 am

Might be the temperature sensor.  When they go bad, they read hot.  I just had to change one on my '79.

The sensor is probably located in the spigot on the driver side of the head that the heater hose goes to.

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: burn_your_money on November 13, 2007, 09:08:53 am

Probably a fault temp sensor or a bad wire.

Title: Temp gauge reads high with cold engine and hard cold start
Post by: jtanguay on November 13, 2007, 12:41:19 pm

as for your heat problem you may need a new thermostat.