Correct temprature reading 3200 ?

Spike62

Junior Member
Messages
253
The return drive home from the Spring Rugby meet last night, was the first time I have driven at night in an outide air temprature of 2 degrees. The temprature gauge, which normally sits at around 75-80, went as low as it could read to 50 for the majority of the journey, only recovering to its normal state when I stopped to collect supper. Is this normal ?
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Yes, its a combination of you not driving it hard enough :sad3: and the near freezing air rushing in from outside.

You know you used to see cars with foil on their grilles/rads not so long ago, that is for this reason.

Spike, I moved this post into the relevant section.
 
Last edited:

alfamaserman

Junior Member
Messages
185
Spike, mine behaves the same - approx 70 when moving freely on the open road and up to 90 in traffic. Last night I was also showing an even lower temp. - ice buzzer was on as well.
John.
 

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
Hi Spike, Nice to meet you last night.

I think Matt's probably nailed it. Freezing temperatures at cruising speed.

Can't believe the gritters we out last night! Freaky.

Hopefully not too long until the next get-together.

Happy motoring, Cheers, Miles.
 

lozcb

Member
Messages
12,304
Seems all is normal Spike, and your not alone , what Matt says is logical , just one to keep your eye on for a while , untill you get used to it , , car was looking good mate ,


regards loz
 

Nigelo

New Member
Messages
25
Hi Guys

Sorry that my first post here should be one that disagrees with Matt but I am sure he will forgive the "Outrage"!!!

Assuming the temp guage is not playing silly buggers, 50C is way too low and whilst the indirect result of cold weather, this is not the underlying cause. Get your thermostat checked out as this has probably stuck wide open - It should automatically compensate for ambient temperature fluctuation and yours isn't. FYI, the thermosatat on a 3200 is not available as an element but comes complete with housing and is therefore not cheap.

hope this helps

ps Nice Forum Matt but any chance on increasing the default font size within the posting field?
 

Paul L

Sponsor
Messages
471
Hi Nigelo,

Interesting point on the possible thermostat sticking open,

My 3200 also lowers in temp reading when driven in cold weather then rising back up when as Matt says driven hard!

Will look further into this

Cheers
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Hi Guys

Sorry that my first post here should be one that disagrees with Matt but I am sure he will forgive the "Outrage"!!!

Assuming the temp guage is not playing silly buggers, 50C is way too low and whilst the indirect result of cold weather, this is not the underlying cause. Get your thermostat checked out as this has probably stuck wide open - It should automatically compensate for ambient temperature fluctuation and yours isn't. FYI, the thermosatat on a 3200 is not available as an element but comes complete with housing and is therefore not cheap.

hope this helps

ps Nice Forum Matt but any chance on increasing the default font size within the posting field?

Hi, Nigelo, no, dont worry about it, glad to have your head on this one. I did initially think what I said was correct, but last night I was travelling back from town and looked at the temp gauge and this thread popped back into my mind. On a second look 50 is barely off the stop, so it is low. I would imagine at cruise in very cold weather, it could go as low as 60-67, but on reflection, not 50.....sound like you need to follow Nigelo's advice.
 

rob4wd

New Member
Messages
70
as the thermostats are in excess of £100 it would be wise to check the actual water temperature rather than what the gauge reads,

regards

rob
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Doubt this is correct. If temp is really low as 50 degreees, might be thermostat. My 3200 is normally at 70, rsing to 90 in traffic or during a hoon. Only experts (dealer or indie) can tell you what it is supposed to be so make a phone call. Think the fans have two stage operation for sure, so might want to check thse start and stop as expected. Could they be running for too long? Temp sensors perhaps.

Had exact same symptom on my V6 Alfa, new stat fixed it. Temp goes up to 90 after 1.5 miles and stays there, no matter what.
 

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
I've a 3200, and have the same problem - very slow to warm up - can take 15 mins driving to even lift off the stop (and this was today - weather is mild, not dead of winter!). If sitting in slow traffic on a sunny day, it'll just rise to 90, but if the car's doing any more than 10mph, the temp drops, and at high speeds drops right down to 55/60 degrees. Mentioned it to Marios at Autosounds, and he said he thought it'd be the thermostat too, and said he'd order one for my next visit to him. However, is this a job I could do myself (bearing in mind the most technical thing I've ever done is change a water pump on my ancient Merc)? Or best left to the experts?
Cheers
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Its simple, just be prepared to get wet. From memory, the thermostat is mounted in a pipe, and the new one might come with the pipe, so it will just be a case of undoing the jubilee clips, getting wet feet, fitting the new one and filling here back up with the correct coolant.

I seem to remember, if you remove the throttle body Y pipe, its just below, sort of a metal housing, mid way in a rubber pipe, just behind the rad.

If you do it, can you do a how to pictorial for our technical section?

Good luck

Matt
 

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
Ok, so I'm considering doing it - have looked through the first 6 pages of the 'engine removal' part of the manual, and it looks simple enough - once the thermostat's changed and everything's back in place, do I need to ensure there's no air trapped in the system when I refil the coolant? and if so, how?
Thanks guys,


PS Will definitely do a pictorial 'how to' if I do it btw...
 

cowsurgeon

Junior Member
Messages
354
...wondering if the lack of an answer to my question is because nobody can quite believe I know this little about car maintenance...
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Sorry Chris, yes, you need to remove the air. I dont know the correct procedure, maybe one of the others will be able to help.

Have a look round for a valve in the coolant system somewhere or a screw head on the rat (pretty sure there aint one) so failing that, just run it with the cap of the expansion tank and allow the air to escape. I always find squeezing the main pipes repeatedly, help things along.

Matt
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
...wondering if the lack of an answer to my question is because nobody can quite believe I know this little about car maintenance...

No idea how to bleed the 3200, but there will be a bleed valve if one is needed. Otherwise leave lid off tank ^^ and pump those hoses (gloves) :D
On my Fiat Punto bleed valve is on a rubber hose near the bulkhead, undo with finger, then tighten with screwdriver (f****ing HOT water)
On my Alfa there is a bleed screw in top corner of rad
 

steve

New Member
Messages
78
Millbrooke used some sort of pressure system to refill the water and remove the air, it still took a few goes to get rid of the air with the correct equipment.

Cheers
Steve