Overheating problem

Hi, just noticed today a little connector that wasn't plugged in at the
right side of the engine, some sort of sensor ? Anyway, now its plugged in I
noticed the temperature guage on the dashboard is working and going into the
red after a 3 mile or so drive, I presume the "sensor" is part of the
temperature measurment. I checked the coolant and there is plenty, hope this
is nothing serious, I only bought the car last saturday. Maybe the sensor
was unplugged deliberately to hide the over heating problem ? Any ideas what
the problem might be ?

Peugeot 306 L
1.4
1998 R reg
54000 miles

 

Wouldnt surprise me. My car came with no brake warning light, and guess what
was fixed a few short months later.

Oh, and it was warmed up before I came to buy it. Guess what happened when I
turned the key the next frosty morning.

Live and learn I guess :|

 

Chances are the temps are normal, but the sensor needs replaced. I would be
almost certain it was unplugged deliberately.
If it has just been bought, take it back and ask what they are going to do
about it.
Where did you buy ?

 

It was bought privately so I don't have any warranty, I've been googling for
overheating and peugeots and alot point to head gasket problems, I hope it
is only the sensor that needs replacing. Cheers for the replies

 

I would phone the seller and ask him why he unplugged the sensor. You will
probably be able to tell by his response if he did it or not. Also keep an
eye on the water level in the radiator if you have only been using the car
for a week. It may well have a blowing gasket, or conversly, the previous
owner may have thought it did, which is why he punted the car. If you got it
for a good price and if it is a faulty sensor, you scored. I only have
experience of french diesels not petrol though.

--
Stuart





..

 

if its a blown head gasket look in the expantion tank for sludgy/foamy
blackness - If water and petrol are mixing etc then you'll know from here.

 

You would also often get a lot of water vapour from the exhaust.
Just because you bought the car privately, does not mean you have no
comeback. How was the car described? It must be true to the description, if
not then the small claims court might help you. This is particularly true if
the seller had removed the sensor connector to hide a problem.

 

If its going into the red after just 3 miles, the overheating problem
is huge! Or else its just a sensor problem. If its the first, you'll
definitely have a case at the small claims court, if the second, you
don't have a problem really.

 

Buying a used car with a none-working temperature guage is a *bad* idea ! If
you don't know to look for these things, then you should be buying from a
trader.

Head gasket. Blocked cooling system. Duff waterpump. Could be any number of
things.
Never buy a car with faults, unless the price reflects them !