Fiat ducatto false temperature reading

chris rushton · 29 Apr 2017

my 2004 fiat ducatto camper shows normal temp when cold and overheating when warm. i have changed the temp sensor and cleaned the contacts behind the clocks with an anti static electrical cleaner and it's still the same. if i disconnect the sensor the the gauge doesn't work. can i try connecting an auxiliary temp gauge to the existing connectors by splicing into the wires leaving both gauges live? any answers are welcome. thanks.

Burnerman · 29 Apr 2017

I wouldn't fiddle with this Chris, but rather look towards an earth problem with the dashboard.....I think the Ducato has an earth terminal in the fuse box area.
John

chris rushton · 29 Apr 2017

thanks john but would that not affect other instruments?

Burnerman · 29 Apr 2017

Good call Chris but the temperature gauge is by far the most sensitive to earthing issues.
Just a point though, the engine would normally have two temperature senders.....one to the gauge and one to the ECU. Wondering if you had changed the right one?
John

DaveHerns · 30 Apr 2017

Do you mean it reads "normal" ie midway , when it's cold or that it reads cold which would be normal ? I'd be thinking the gauge is defective if it's the former. What does the gauge read if you disconnect the battery?

Mursal · 30 Apr 2017

Has this happened while you owned the van, or did you buy it with this problem?

DaveHerns · 1 May 2017

I meant to ask if this is a digital display or a gauge with a mechanical hand.

chris rushton · 1 May 2017

Thanks everyone for your help.John had it spot on with the earthing prob on the fuse box. cleaned and stripped the whole fuse box. everything works well now. thanks, Chris.

Fiat ducatto false temperature reading

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