Re: CoupeQ Temps, Tires

[Porsray <Porsray@aol.com>]

A couple questions that've been bugging me...
(my replies below questions; I've had similar problems with both
water temp and outside temp units)
 
 First, I replaced my multifunction/water temperature sender switch due
 to typical failure (often pegged at zero, randomly raising to mid-scale
 then back to zero...), but it acts funny now.  When I run the car at a
 relatively constant speed, the gauge never reads beyond the three
 thick bands at min. scale.  This is true even if I drive for a half hour or
 more, as long as I haven't sat in traffic for a few minutes.  Otherwise, as
 soon as I sit in traffic, the needle raises pretty quickly to mid-scale and
 seems to stay there for quite awhile.  My question is, is it normal to see
 such low readings while doing steady-state "highway driving" (at 40
 mph or more)?  BTW, outside temps have been between 30 and 35 F
 lately.

reply: I think this is a bit cold.  My Coupe usually reads between middle
thick mark and thin mark to its left on the highway.  In stop& go traffic, 
rises to the middle thick mark & holds there (can hear the radiator fan
cycling on and off).

Does car take a long time to warm up to it's steady-state point?  Does it
take forever before heater comes on to full fan speed?  Might be a sticking
thermostat, although doesn't seem too bad.
 -------------------------------------------------------------
 Second, I was getting low readings on my outside temp display.  I
 found the sender dangling (still attached) down by the inner bumper,
 so I pushed it back into the bracket on the grill.  It worked perfectly for 
 3 days, but now for the last 2 or 3 days it gives readings that are 13 to 15
 F too low.  Occasionally the numbers climb about one digit every 3 or
 4 seconds to the correct temperature, but then typically fall again.  Is
 this indicative of a bad outside temperature sender?  BTW, I hope I
 have the whole sender;  it didn't look like much (just three curved
 prongs at the end, surrounding a short cylinder).

Reply: Could be the sender going or once again the connector at the end
of the sensor wire; another possibility is the wire has been partially cut.
Follow the length back to the two-prong connector on the wire end, check
connector.  
 
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reply from Ray Calvo
1990 Coupe Quattro (122,000 miles and at least one outside temp sender
replaced)