Hi everyone,

I've been the proud owner of a 2016 LR4 for exactly week and have already had my first mechanical issue.

While driving up the Northern California coast a couple days ago, I noticed a rapid rise on my engine temperature gauge and promptly pulled over and shut the engine down. Upon inspection of the engine compartment I noticed no signs of a fluid leak, steam, or any other indication of the engine running hot and the coolant was at the appropriate level. After the inspection I turned the accessories on and to my surprise the gauge indicated the normal temperature. I proceeded to drive without any further erroneous indications., leading me to believe there may be a faulty sensor or wiring short.

Since then, the temperature gauge has intermittently spiked twice. Both times the temperature returns to its normal indication after spending a few seconds at maximum temperature.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Any codes?
As we all know, this can be the death of the engine if not dealt with now.
Thermostat failing? Radiator fan not kicking in? Need much more to go on…

 

I haven't connected a scanner to it yet so I'm not sure if it's producing any codes. The fact that the spike in the "indicated" temperature is momentary and seems to reset once the vehicle is turned off and back on leads me to believe that the issue is not mechanical but rather electrical. My thoughts are that either a sensor is failing or something in the indicating system is losing a ground. I'll try to get my hands on a scanner tomorrow and keep you updated.

Thanks for the prompt response!

 

? electrical fault… without a code?? hmmm.

 

So the issue occurred again on the way home from work tonight. The temperature quickly rose to 3/4 of the way to Hot and then immediately decreased back down to the normal position. Still no codes. Thermostat issue possibly?

 

Keep playing russian roulette and your going to learn first hand the cost of a replacement engine…

 

I learned today that there were a bad batch of OEM thermostats that came out last year that sometime have a tendency to not fully open 100% in an adequate amount of time as they cycle. This issue has been rearing it's head lately and have been causing these momentary increases in temperature.

I've placed an order for a NON OEM thermostat, as I was recommended. Fingers crossed that this is the fix!

 

but, if the oem thermostat is used and installed at the dealer… you have a 1 year warranty!

 

Suggest you get a tool to monitor the temp that plugs into the ODBII port.

Inexpensive tools will only read the Temp sensor 1. This is the one in the rear. This is the one to really keep a look at.

If you have the Gap IID tool it will also read Temp sensor 2. This is the one right that reads the coolant temp after the radiator just before it goes into the thermostat.

Don't rely on the standard dash temp gauge when diagnosing or bleeding the system. The temps can start climbing before the standard temp gauge goes high. With a separate tool you will be able to see the temps start rising and know something is not correct before the dash temp gauge is showing anything is wrong.

 

Thanks for the information.
To give you an update, the thermostat that I ordered from rockauto.com that I thought was going to be aftermarket ended up being OEM. After doing more research I found a bulletin from Land Rover informing mechanics that any OEM thermostat manufactured after 2/2023 should be quarantine. At the moment there is a national shortage on all aftermarket thermostats and I've been searching high and low for a viable option. I've attached the bulletin for everyone to reference.