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I've owned this car for 5 years now and just recently I've noticed a change in my temperature gauge.

Last winter, a few minutes into my journey, if I stopped at a traffic light, my gauge would go from 'mid normal' almost down to 'low normal.' Now the weather is warmer, if I drive at speed or go uphill, the gauge goes to 'high normal'

Today I used the speed dial diagnostic trick and had the real time temperature read-out, again at speed I saw the temperature go as high as 113C (plus it was uphill a bit) at which point the gauge rises to 'high normal.' The odd thing about this is the temperature drops if I'm heading down hill.

I've had the coolant changed, made no difference, I'm fairly sure the thermostat is ok, I got the car up to normal from cold outside my house and the bottom hose got hot around 96C, which I think is normal.

But I haven't heard the fan come on for ages. Any ideas?

Asked on 3 May 2011 by kingfisher1967

Answered by Alan Ross
If the thermostat had failed it normally fails in the open position, which normally means that the engine will take longer to reach its normal operating temperature, so I would not think it is that.

If, as you say, the fans are not coming on then it could be that your fan relay is faulty.
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