You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Car – 52reg 1.4tdci Fiesta – 91k
It’s got a digital temperature gauge with little increments, normally sits just below the halfway mark, on a few occasions recently the red warning light has come on and the digital temp display flashes.
On one occasion I’d only gone about 2 miles and it happened and there is no way the car would have warmed up.
Another time it happened I’d done about 10 miles, pulled over both times, no visible leaks, steam, the radiator reservoir is at the normal level.
The only thing I can think of is a dodgy temp sensor? Going to have a play tonight take the electrical connection off give it a spray they see if it happens again.
Cars been looked after well, timing belts been done, serviced regular, it doesn’t do long runs though, mainly A roads commute to work 6 miles round trip.
Any other ideas?
Might be an airlock in the system, but I'd suspect the sensor the same as you. Could be worth giving it a god old thrashing though. Dunno if 'Italian tune ups' work on Fords though... 😉
On one occasion I’d only gone about 2 miles and it happened and there is no way the car would have warmed up.
Well the "warming up" of the car is actually the whole coolant warming up, which takes a while. A lot of excess heat is generated as soon as you start the car, just taken away by the coolant. But if your coolant is not circulating, then the bit near the engine will get very hot very quickly.
There might be two sensors, one for the temp gauge and one for the warning system, and they might be in different places. My guess is water pump or air in the sytem. Squeeze the top radiator hose, and see if it feels like water is in there. Also, try starting the car from cold and seeing which bits feel hot the quickest.
Could also be a blockage of some kind - crud sometimes builds up and could start obstructing fluid flow I suppose, although sounds extreme. Any mayonnaise in there?
Yeah. Used to happen all the time to me in a Fiesta, albeit a 1977 Fiesta. It was an airlock in the cooling system.
From what you're saying though, you're getting a warning light even though the temperature gauge is reading sensibly. So, presumably there's two sensors one of them's on the blink. Or they're in different places I suppose.
Hang on, this "flashing temp light", does it look like a thermometer?
If so, it's not a temp light, it's a fluid level light. Check coolant levels.
It could be Car AIDS, it's worse than cat AIDS but is treatable.
Hang on, this "flashing temp light", does it look like a thermometer?If so, it's not a temp light, it's a fluid level light
Oh yeah good point. Flashing and steady don't mean the same thing, check the levels.
What car is it? Could just be a rear bulb out as my vw van starter plug light flashes with a bulb out
cheers all, hope its not car AIDS my last one had that.
anyway found the following on a ford forum but the query wasnt answered but it shows the exact same thing that happens to mine. (if the GIF works)
[img] 
[/img]
im going to clean the sensor bits and then see what happens (i think it is just one sensor according to the haynes), my gut feeling it is a block of some sort knowing my luck, just need her to kepe going for another 2 years.
That's coolant level. Definitely.
Sticking thermostat?