Re: Cold engine or faulty temp gauge?

[roner@novagate.com]

Mike wrote:
> 
> Just got back from a long trip in the ol' 89 100 and was disturbed midway
> in the 5 hr trip when I noticed that my water temp gauge apparently
> stopped working.  It read below the lowest mark on the "cold" side.  Oil
> temp remained very close to 80C throughout (as it always does).  The trip
> ended and I parked the car and turned it off.  Then, before getting out of
> the car we noticed it was a no parking zone, so I fired her up to move
> and--presto!--the gauge now registers about 1/4 to 2/3 of the max.
> 
> So:
> 
> 1.  Anyone ever have thisproblem?
> 2.  What's it cost to fix?
> 
> And BTW, thanks to everyone for your previous answers!
> 
> Mike



My '90 90 works in this manner all of the time.  As a matter of fact, it 
doesn't work more often than it works.  It usually works when the engine 
is warmer, like when it's been idling for 5 minutes or so without 
moving.

A mechanic told me that it's the sensor and that Audi wants about $100 
for a new one, so I'm living with it for the time being.  I don't know 
if there may be another source for them or not.

Tony