HELP - Temprature Gauge RED LIGHT/BEEPS

[TheBigGM]

Hi Guys,

I'm wondering if you can help!

I started my car this morning and the car made 3 loud beeps and the red light by the temprature gauge was flashing.

Does anybody know what this means? This is the second time it's done this and I'm a bit worried about it now.

I turned off the engine, put it back on and it carried on doing it. I drove for about 5 miles, the temprature came back up and it was still flashing so once again I turned the engine off, turned it back on then the light went.

It wasn't cold this morning either, very strange.

Cheers,

Gaz.

 

[tegwin]

I assume the engine was cold when it was beeping at you...

I would suspect the water temperature sender is FUBAR.....



They are badly made items... I have replaced several on VAG cars recently....

 

[everitt1980]

Was the engine overheating or just beeping and flashing at you? If the temp needle was reading normal i would check your coolant level first.

 

[tris]

Mine has only ever done this when low on water

 

[speedinsaxo]

Mine does it all the time now. Car not over heating, but must get it check out, I think the sensor can get coated in crap and malfunction.

 

[Mike Green]

Yeah there has been threads on this. Mine did this all the time - I am assuming it is your water coolant guage so what I did was clean the water coolant prongs with a large paper clip. They did look clean anyway to me, but still did it, and it has not happened to me for months now.

 

[TheBigGM]

Was the engine overheating or just beeping and flashing at you? If the temp needle was reading normal i would check your coolant level first.

No it was the first time starting it this morning and I had the three loud beeps with the red flashing light. The needle was showing zero as it usually would until a drove a few miles and the needle moved to about half way on the gauge which it also usually does.

 

[LEE69]

Yeah there has been threads on this. Mine did this all the time - I am assuming it is your water coolant guage so what I did was clean the water coolant prongs with a large paper clip. They did look clean anyway to me, but still did it, and it has not happened to me for months now.

Spot on saved me typing it all out pmsl

 

[andylcr]

Yeah there has been threads on this. Mine did this all the time - I am assuming it is your water coolant guage so what I did was clean the water coolant prongs with a large paper clip. They did look clean anyway to me, but still did it, and it has not happened to me for months now.

are these prongs easy to find and clean? i'm a car DIY idiot and havent a clue, but my Leon did the same earlier. started it up from cold and it made a beep noise and the light flashes for 10 mins whilst driving home.

I check the coolant level and it looks fine.

 

[LEE69]

Unscrew the cap and look inside

 

[Mudz]

mine did it when there was no coolant that why i have joined this forum for some more info,as to why is doin it

 

[andylcr]

Unscrew the cap and look inside

simple as that is it?

i'll get my coat then!

 

[andylcr]

ok so i spotted the water coolant prongs after taking the lid off. the question is should all of the prongs be covered by coolant?

I have a 'Minimum' level on the thingy but dont have a 'maximum' level. the coolant comes up to about half way up the round thing at the moment, which is more than the minimum level but the top part of the prongs are not covered as it isnt that full.

hope that makes sense!!

 

[LEE69]

As long as coolant is touching the prongs a circuit is made and the beeping stops.
If the coolant can't touch the prong (because they have a coating on them) it needs scraping off.

Mines about just over the seam of the bottle iirc.

 

[andylcr]

cheers Lee.

Am i right in thinking that the prongs can be removed from the bottle to be cleaned rather than having to clean them inside the bottle with a paper clip or something else?

 

[oldman]

clean them whilst they are in situ
just use a long flat bladed small headed screw driver to do the job.
my level is just over the join in the bottle

zillions of other threads on this:
3 beeps is always a good search starter for 10

 

[gb]

clean them whilst they are in situ
just use a long flat bladed small headed screw driver to do the job.
my level is just over the join in the bottle

zillions of other threads on this:
3 beeps is always a good search starter for 10

2nd this

did mine last year after it was doing it for ages and still no beeping to this day 5min job

 

[Goodie]

I had this problem for a while, fairly intermittant. Usually happened when parked on a steep gradient.
After checking the forum, cleaned in situ, but I used an old tooth brush to get at it. This is probably a little safer than using a screwdriver.
Since cleaning have not had a reoccurance in months.

 

[TubbyTwo]

i cleaned the sensor and filled the coolant up so it was just covering all of the prongs and its been fine ever since.