Hello I'm a newby and I've just bought an 01 Freelander 1.8, 64k miles, but it has a temp gauge fault. Its not the head gasket, thats ok, engine runs fine.

When turning on the ignition, engine cold, the temp gauge rises to half way. On driving the car, the gauge then rises to max, but the engine is just warming up.

After about 20 mins driving, the gauge then drops down to 1/3 and rises up to normal and then its ok.

Tried disconnecting the sender, then turned on the ignition, engine cold, the gauge still went up half way. Turned the engine on, the fans set off full blast.

So I dont think its the sender or the ECU. Looks like the gauge. Please can anyone comment? I'd appreciate any useful comments. I hope its not the wiring!

 

Maybe the thermostat is having a difficult time opening? Should be an easy fix.

 

Can't be the thermostat because the gauge reads half way up engine cold, and with sender disconnected.

 

Found that the gauge drops to its correct reading when I press the trip meter/odometer button, but it returns to the abnormally high reading when I release. If I hit the back of the instrument binnacle the gauge sometimes drops to its correct position. So next job is to take the binnacle to bits and see whats what.....

 

The temp sensor connects to ECU, which drives the gauge in the gauge via the cluster. You should be able to use an ODBII scanner to show actual temps, even if gauge wiring or gauge cluster on the fritz.