Engine temperature gauge fluctuating while driving

[Conor76]

Hi all

I drive a 07 Galaxy mk 3 1.8 diesel. Car seems to take a while for temperature gauge to start rising, it never seems to reach halfway. Seems to fluctuate between quarter way and nearly half way. Only rises to near halfway when accelerating up a hill etc. Mechanic said that he replaced thermostat, hasn't made any difference!

Many thanks

[benali]

Check your coolant level. My gauge became dodgy when level dropped a bit.

[Conor76]

Thanks for the reply, coolant level seems perfect!

[insanitybeard]

Depending on the model, diesels do run cooler than petrol engines- has the temperature gauge always behaved like this or has it only started recently? My mark 2 1.9 TDI temperature gauge takes a while to lift from cold, and when it does it will only reach half way if being put under load- slow driving or coasting won't do it, especially if it's cool outside.

[Conor76]

I only have the car about 6 weeks. Bought it off a garage with a 3 month warranty, so they checked it out and changed the oil thermostat, but made no difference. Gauge keeps moving up and down. Also the car was very sluggish starting in the morning, so they have had the car nearly a week now. They changed glow plugs, fuel filters etc but no change. My wife went to pick it up today, and couldn't start it in the dealership! They started it, and tried it a few times, and seemed ok.

She drove 2 minutes down the road, she then noticed a bad rattling noise and the car then died.  The garage picked her up and gave her a replacement car and took it back. They are giving it to a Ford specialist to see what the problem is....

By the way, can't fault the garage, their after sales care has been excellent.....

[gregers]

iirc under the sale of goods act you have 28 days to notify the dealer of any defects on the car,this does not even touch any warranty that has come with it.
they have to prove the fault wasnt there at time of sale,not you.
sounds like there a good bunch then,but please bear in mind.it might be beneficial to you to get them to extend the warranty as compensation for the upheaval you have had to endure  dont ask dont get.

[Chrispb]

Hi Conor 76 

Think you may have had a lucky escape here as that sounds now like cam belt failure
What mileage has the car done?

[Conor76]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice.

The car has done about 112,000 miles. Cam belt failure sounds serious! The garage has assured me that they will look after us... here's hoping!

Car has gone to Ford specialist, I'll report back as to what his findings are.....

If he says he can't find anything wrong, then I'll start to worry!

[Chrispb]

Cambelt failure is serious on nearly all engines as it causes the valves to clash with the pistons, have been in conversation with a chap on another forum, his has failed at 100.000 miles.
The Lynx 1.8 engine has normal  belt and a chain in oil, or the normal belt and a belt in oil.
The belt in oil was the one that failed in his case.

If it turns out to be something different I would still pressure them to changing the belts just for piece of mind as a breakage will cause extensive damage.