Weird Heat Gauge Issue - 4500 GRX

Engines and Engine Systems
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petri oosthuizen
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Weird Heat Gauge Issue - 4500 GRX

Post by petri oosthuizen »

Hi Guys!!!!!!!!!!!

I've noticed this a while back, didnt really take note or forgot to do something about it or both.

Drove Olive again today, and saw the issue again..........

If I floor her, the heat guage drops. Quite quickly.

Electrical issue, mayeb alternator or some "resistor" or something??

Gauge is fine at idle, or while coasting at highway speeds, its only when I floor her , accelerating or at standstill. And I rev that Mamma often......she sounds SO sweet!!
"Fear?? Looking over at Joe Louis' corner, and knowing he wants to go home early tonight"..........Max Baer
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Peter Connan
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Re: Weird Heat Gauge Issue - 4500 GRX

Post by Peter Connan »

I would be looking for a bad earth connection first...

Either between the engine and the battery, or the instrument cluster?
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Dungbeetle
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Re: Weird Heat Gauge Issue - 4500 GRX

Post by Dungbeetle »

Known issue on Patrols.

Most likely bad connection of the terminal/wire right at the temp sender.

Mine did that as well a while ago.

Your model is analogue system so the temp sensing and then display does not go via a ECU

Do the following test:

Switch on the ignition
Disconnect the terminal at the temp sender
The heat gauge should drop right down
Now earth the wire to the engine anywhere
Do this by pushing a needle through the wire and touch the needle on the engine.
The heat gauge should lift to max reading
This means there is nothing wrong with the system from the inserted needle up to and including the heat gauge.

The fault is that connection to the temperature sender..
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petri oosthuizen
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Home Town: bethlehem, eastern fs
Current 4x4: 1998 Patrol 4500 GRX......."OLIVE"
1997 Cruiser HZJ 75........."JACK"
2008 Merc CL 500............."BULLET"
2006 C 180 K Manual........."SUSSIE"
En Mamma se Kar, 'n Ford
Home Language: afrikaans
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Re: Weird Heat Gauge Issue - 4500 GRX

Post by petri oosthuizen »

Thanks a MILL Guys.

I removed that plug thingie near the radiator (heat sender??), cleaned it up with Contact Cleaner.

Also noticed that my + terminal was quite loose on the battery.........!!

Anyway, all seems well now, dunno if it was the terminal or the sender unit though.

Thanks again, Happy Days are back again!!
"Fear?? Looking over at Joe Louis' corner, and knowing he wants to go home early tonight"..........Max Baer
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