[s-cars] Re: Heater Control Temp vs Temp Gauge

[Bob Rossato]

> What I observed yesterday was that the climate
> controller reported the coolant temperature to be 50C
> after a restart (the car had been driven a short
> distance and also idled while the coolant was topped
> up) about 15 minutes after I completed the thermostat
> change. It stayed at 50C for a couple of miles before
> proceeding towards 87C.
>

That appears to be normal.  Mine did the same thing (holding at 50C).  What
was odd was that I decided to check it first thing in the morning with
ignition on but engine not running and the temperature would continually
increase.  When I accessed channel 51 it was around 10C and I watched it
increase to 37C with the engine still off before I went ahead and started it
up.  At that point it continued at the same rate and then held at 50C.
While it was rising with the engine off the fan would react to different
temp points.  The only thing I can figure is that the sensor has a
pre-heater built in like the O2 sensor and it stops at 50C.  Why I don't
know and haven't checked it see how many wires are going to it.  Just
another of those funky things.

Bob