temp gauge on vn

[holden123]

Hi, need some help with my temp gauge. I just put a new radiator in (natrad) new water pump, new intake manifold gasket's , new thermostat, 2 new temp sender on the intake manifold. Now the temp gauge in the car read's 1/2, but before I did all this the temp gauge read 1/4, is this the right temp? Or is it too high? The thermo fan come's on at 3/4 and cool's it back down to 1/2. Was told today you can run a colder thermostat, can anyone inform to weather this is true or not...

[88GreenVN]

Is the car getting hot tho? Can you squeeze the hoses?

It may just be a dodgy thermostat, blocked water jacket, or that the gauge is now reading correct.

The gauge can be tested using a multi meter - but how I'm not sure

[holden123]

can squeeze the hoses, also replace the temp gauge as that's what i thought it was. sorry not sure what you mean about water jackets. spoke to a guy at auto pro today he said the temp is fine. And the car should run 1/2 way. I'm so confused

[HoldenOnn]

Temp gauge is exactly that....its a gauge. Can you tell me what temp the water is at 1/4 gauge reading and what temp the water is at half? It may only be a few degrees different if that. Only way to find out is to get into the computer via holden and check what the coolant temp is at when reading halfway. I think you will be surprised to find that between half and a quarter there is barely a couple of degrees.

[holden123]

thanks for that it make some sense now. was told you can get two thermostat one runs 15c cooler thanks for your help

[88GreenVN]

The gauge is adjustable too - has a slider adjustment at the back of the gauge.

Have you tried the old gauge back in the car?

[HoldenOnn]

Don't get a cooler thermostat. No need whatsoever. I have a 500hp VL Berlina Turbo which sees street duties with air con and it has standard thermostat. I just sold my VS S Pack SII V6 Commodore and that had standard thermostat.

With a fully serviced cooling system, there is no need to stray away from the stock standard genuine thermostat. After I serviced the VS and complete cooling system, the gauge occassionally played up and went to 3/4 mark. My best mate at the auto electricians put the hand held computer on it and even when the gauge rose to 3/4 mark, it wasn't in any danger of getting too hot.....exact figures are unknown as it was 3 years ago when we did it. The car went perfectly and no overheating for 3 years of owning it.

[social]

and i was just going to ask the simple quesiton of did u bleed the cooling system and have the heater on while doing it..?

[holden123]

yep bleed the cooling system i might run a over ride switch on the thermo fan. found a post on here do you think it's a good idea?

[HoldenOnn]

There is no way that anyone would be able to switch a fan on perfectly at the correct time everytime the gauge rises......unless you are stationary and you recline your seat back a little and you get some popcorn and a drink and you are sitting in your driveway staring constantly at the temp gauge

Go to an auto electrician or holden dealership and get the tech 2 hand piece on the car and let them tell you the water temp when the gauge is reading 3/4.

[wrx884]

Its possible wen u changed the gauge that the needles adjustments moved out of place, happend 2 mine wen i had mine out. If u can get 1 of those hand held thermo heat guns on ur heater hoses ect... 2 find out the exact temp (dont worry bout the tech 2 u dont need 1) least that way u can work out where 2 go from there.

[rob drag racer]

i was told at Holden that there's only 8 degrees between running temp and boiling so take what ya want from that and that's for a vp v6

[arrow224]

My gauge normally runs at the 1/4, but sitting in traffic can rise to 1/2, then the fan comes on. VP V6 as well. No problems with it.

[camstatic]

Mine runs cold and takes ages to warm up, even with a hotter thermostat. In winter this makes for some shivery rides to the servo at midnight for a drink. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard the thermo come on in winter at all, except for when I'm using the A/C to demist. Brrr.