My patience is running out. (overheating issue) - page 2 - Troubleshooting - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• #15 by Vincent Waldon on 26 Jun, 2008 21:33
• A few more random questions and thoughts:
  
  - does the fuel gauge do anything wacky when the temp gauge is going wacky ??   If so, as Tyler mentions, they share a voltage regulator
  
  - anywhere near a Radio Shack ??  If so... you could replace the temperature sensor with a resistor temporarily... if the gauge still misbehaves you know it's the cluster or wiring... if not it's probably the sensor.
  
  According to this chart:
  
  http://www.bentleypublishers.com/tech/vw/bentley.vw1301.testing.htm
  
  something in the 200 - 400 ohm range should put your temp gauge somewhere in the middle of the scale.
• #16 by jtanguay on 27 Jun, 2008 04:50
• very interesting vince... that would be an excellent way of testing and verifying our gauges.    i would assume the voltage regulator to be whacked out.  one thing that might smooth things out would be a capacitor...  since our alternators give out some pretty bad spikes etc.
• #17 by The Mad Hatter on 27 Jun, 2008 05:29
• All great ideas, and they may work for somebody, but i have figured out my problem (finally!).  I pulled the connector off the coolant temp sensor in the overflow tank, and it had coolant in the connector.  Apparently my "new" one isn't that great, so i cleaned the original one up and put it back in.  It ran cool all the way to work, never went above the light!  Obviously, coolant in the connector caused the gauge to go bonkers.  Thanks for all the help with this!!
  
  Now, i just gotta get the A/C working!  :shock:
• #18 by jtanguay on 27 Jun, 2008 12:03
• Quote from: "The Mad Hatter"

  All great ideas, and they may work for somebody, but i have figured out my problem (finally!).  I pulled the connector off the coolant temp sensor in the overflow tank, and it had coolant in the connector.  Apparently my "new" one isn't that great, so i cleaned the original one up and put it back in.  It ran cool all the way to work, never went above the light!  Obviously, coolant in the connector caused the gauge to go bonkers.  Thanks for all the help with this!!
  
  Now, i just gotta get the A/C working!  :shock:

  
  
  what is left to get your a/c system working??? maybe i can offer some assistance/pictures for you.
• #19 by The Mad Hatter on 27 Jun, 2008 12:11
• I'm not sure what condition the A/C is in.  It seems to be all there, i'm sure it has no freon in it.  One of the wires up near the top of the radiator has been disconnected (i'm assuming to disable the system), so i'm pretty sure its in rough shape.  
  
  HA, i'm afraid to plug the wire back in and run it, i JUST got this car running right!  Lol.