The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi, after restoration I am starting to drive the car more and more as confidence builds. I have noticed that the tempreture gauge reads a fraction under the red overheating mark and sometimes on the red. On stopping there is no evidence of overheating and when cool there is no loss of water. If I earth the sensor wire the needle on the gauge goes well past the red mark and past the 'H' for 'Hot' mark. I have a MGB gauge which shows actual tempreture in degrees F and is connected directly to its own sensor. I tried it in boiling water and it read 212F so is correct. Disconnected the 1300 sensor and replaced with MGB one and went on long drive at high speed, well 60mph.................. and it showed a reading of 190F. Checked it several times on the run and it remained at 190F so I assume this is the average tempreture as the thermostat opens at 180F.
If this is the case then either the gauge is wrong or the sensor or the bi-metal thingy.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Many Thanks
Pete

I had the opposite problem - the gauge showing about a quarter of the way up, my initial thought was the thermostat stuck open, I checked with a fancy thermometer and the engine temperature was fine. Popped a new sender unit in and the gauge is now back to reading "Normal" - it sounds like you have a similar issue - especially if you don't get clouds of steam and water loss. We always seem to think worst case...

On later Triumphs like dolomites and spits the instruments have a lower voltage supply given by an old bimetallic strip
type voltage stabiliser thats supposed to give about 10V.

My spit one is all over the place...

See if your 1300 has something similar and then replace with a solid state equivalent.

Jonners

The voltage reg should be on the back of the speedo