Weird coolant temp issue...

[marko]

Every so often while driving, my water temp needle drops to totaly cold... sits there for a minutes, then goes back up to the midle again.

Otherwise, everything within the cooling system works fine and has been inspected. Pump / tstat / coolant level / temp gauge, etc. Heat works fine (i.e. no air bubbles), and it never overheats.

My mechanic is stumped.

Wtf?

Anyone had a similar issue?

[zoner]

I had a car years ago that had a similar issue- needle would read normal operating temp., then go all over the place intermittently. Ended up being a bad temp. sender.

[chudzikb]

Same experience on my 97 328i, was a temp sensor, quick easy fix.

[marko]

Nice...

I'll try that next week.

[black98]

Marko what was the outcome of you changing the temp sensor mine is doing that but on cold days (32 degrees +/-), was it a solution or have you fixed it and found another solution

[planksta]

mine did the same thing it would shoot from normal to cold and normal to hot and it would scare the **** outta me thinking my car was overheating or something, turned out to be a temp sensor, if all of your other stuff is fine than that is what i would try

[black98]

Thanks planksta i have done a little digging in old forums and it sounds like thats whats going on for sure, do you know of any DIY or part #'s for it

[planksta]

here is the page on Pelican Parts that i went to below

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...ILTER_TOOL2=ON

if you look near the bottom of the page there are technical articles on it and to diagnose if that is what is wrong

[Biolite]

I've found this also to happen when your brake light fuse blows. MIght do an easy check of that as well.

[96silver318ti]

yeah, temp sensor for sure. keep us up to date.
i replaced mine when i did my HG and if i remember correctly(been like a year) its not in a very convenient spot. i think the intake man has to come off. good luck!!

[318ti808]

I had similar issue with the temp gauge. Mine was a broken thermostat housing. The plastic housing portion inside the housing (motor side) that holds the thermostat was broke so the thermostat was constantly open. When driving at a constant speed say on the freeway the temp gauge would run at 1/3. Sitting at idle the car would jump up to a more normal around 1/2.

[grrrwoof]

Hi, I have a 98ti and I'm having the same problems...I looked on pelicanparts and I think it's part number # 13-62-1-703-993 but I'm not 100 % sure if it's the right part. Is this what you guys replaced?

[black98]

I have a thermostat and housing for sell and its brand new shoot me a pm if your interested