Engine temperature gauge

[Thor]

I come to you guys again with some need of assistance, My temperature gauge needle just started to climb randomly while i was driving up hill so when i crest the hill and start going downwards the needle begins to decrease temperature and return to its normal 90 degree status. I also found that when i just coast it or sit at a light the gauge returns to normal. I checked the engine no leaks, full coolant,good oil level, and it doesn't seem to be hotter then usual. i ran a full vagcom scan on it and nothing showed up so i'm thinking its a bad sensor? or something like that?
My car is a 02 1.8t with stage to running 5w40 oil.
All help greatly appreciated (:

[toplessvw]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

When was your water pump last replaced, are your fans switches working properly.

[Thor]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

I don't think the water pump has ever been replaced and yes they are working properly ): It runs fine it seems i tried stressing it out by driving around with the heater at max and kinda speeding but the temp only increased when i went up a hill ??

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

I would start by replacing the coolant temp sensor. If you have the full version of vcds you can watch the blocks in the engine and cluster for the reading of the CTS and this will tell you if it is faulty. Don't remember the block numbers of the top of my head.

Its the only thin that makes sense to me right now. It would be reversed for the water pump same with the fans.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

It will not throw a code for the waterpump except possibly for overheating. Drain some coolant, through a filter if possible, and look for bits of plastic. Plastic = waterpump done. Mine split on the drive shaft so it did provide some pumping, but could not keep up at speed. VW covered mine under warranty, but it happened at 80k km, I don't know how long the warranty is/was. If it is that, do the timing belt while in there.

[Benjamin]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Its your water pump, and even if it is not you are on borrowed time with the water pump. You should have replaced the pump during the last timing belt install along with a bunch of other things. If you have never done a timing belt yet due to low mileage ect then I would highly recommend doing that along with the rollers, tensioners, and water pump.

[Natty54]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Sounds like the water pump to me as well.

Still getting good heat from the vents?

[Thor]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Thanks for the replies (: and yea I get great heat threw the vents everything is runnin fine I changed my temperature sensore and I'm still getting issues but I checked the drained coolan and saw bits of plastic so time for a new pump and belt

[Benjamin]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Make sure the new water pump has a metal impeller. They still sell plastic ones and you really don't want to get back into one of those if possible.

[Thor]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

i might have to bring it in i dont have the nesasary lifting equipment to support the engine):

[BolideVW]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Do you not have a floor jack?

[Thor]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

no ): only a scissor with axle stands had to leave my big one in hawaii

[BolideVW]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Dont they start at like 30 for a cheap one from canadian tire?

[Thor]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

i'm not sure lol, im just trying to check every possible angle before the pump because i found out the pieces of plastic in my mix were from the bucket i used/: but i have stumbled apon a new symptom my gauge in my car reads 90c but when i hit it with my ir heatgun it says 29-32c depending were i hit. then when i hit two bars above 90c bar it reads 50-55c

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Engine temperature gauge

Thor, if you want, give me a call at Calgary Autoworks and we can get you in and taken care of. We still have our 10% off VW/Audi Services till the end of Feb 2013.