Hot in here!

[Lee]

Picture paints a thousand words so they say.

After clouting a deer a month ago my temperature gauge has been slightly optimistic

I know the sensor itself sits behind the passenger arch lining. Has anyone change one before or know any little tips to get it reading right?

Lee

 

[HornelZ3M]

Hi Lee, great meeting you again yesterday. I have taken my wheel arch off which is simple and cleaned the thermostat but sounds like yours needs perhaps to be replaced if come away from the bodywork,again a simple job....But for the time it takes you just as well order a new one.

 

[Brian H]

@Lee as hornel has suggested maybe the jolt from whacking the dear has dislodged the sensor and it is not sitting against something therefore giving you a false reading. Its a wheel arch job off I reckon. Liam was looking for one a few years back and at that point i seem to recall the bracket that holds the sensor is prone to rusting through.

 

[Thesurveyor]

Before you go pulling the bumper to bits......be aware that the M sensor is behind the drivers side rear wheel arch lining. It can be got to reasonably easily but it gets covered in road dirt and the mounting bracket does indeed corrode. Very simple lump of brass but costs nearly £100 from BMW IIRC. Very different from the normal Z3 one for some reason. I cleaned mine up which made it behave but it still reads optimistically like yours. I too saw 35 degrees on Saturday but I don't think it was quite that warm.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hi Lee, sorry to highjack your post. I was looking at your first pic and noticed in the bottom left corner you have a orange / red light push button type thingy. I also have one in my Zed, but haven't a clue what it is for, it doesn't appear to work and there is no mention of it in the owners manual. The only thing I could think of is an LED that has been fitted for security as the factory fitted one between the seats isn't very clear to see externally. Hope you can answer my query. Bryan.

 

[Mint]

@Eddie Zedder, I think it might be the alarm LED that flashes when the alarm is set? Anybody else know/confirm?

 

[Eddie Zedder]

@Eddie Zedder, I think it might be the alarm LED that flashes when the alarm is set? Anybody else know/confirm?

Could be aIarm related, wasn't too sure about it being a standard fit as I thought it looked a bit clunky and out of place next to the other switches. I said that it doesn't appear to work, but I haven't tried it at night! There is a flashing LED below the cubby box which I assume is for the alarm.

 

[hard top]

It should be for the alarm, as I had the same next to my hand break and as far as I know, you should be able to press it to alter alarm settings for when the roof is down. I never bothered to try, as I hardly ever had the hardtop off, hence the forum name, given to me by the Dutch lads "here comes that bloke again with his lid on in the middle of summer" (closet coupe driver)

 

[Lee]

Correct guys, It turns the sensors off inside the car when the roof is down. Otherwise the alarm keeps going off because of the wind.

Lee

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Correct guys, It turns the sensors off inside the car when the roof is down. Otherwise the alarm keeps going off because of the wind.

Lee

 

[J90mud]

i have the same alarm light on mine

my temp guage doesnt even move of the cold peg.

another job on the list

 

[t-tony]

If you need to change your temp gauge, I had all my instruments out and in bits the other week and I'm planning on doing a write up as soon as my kids vehicles stop requiring my services.

Tony.

 

[J90mud]

cheers that would be great.just bought the zed for a trip to europe,leaving next thursday so will be on the list for when i get back

 

[t-tony]

list for when i get back

No problem mate, should have it done by then. Have a great trip.

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

Sometimes I just tap the glass and it registers. Same with the speedo!! JIM

 

[Althulas]

They are not that accurate anyway I'm sure I read somewhere that there is an adjuster for fine tune but to be honest I would rather have an oil pressure gauge instead and a voltmeter instead of the clock.

Edit: I do recall a post about the temp gauge adjustment http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19185

 

[J90mud]

well i have tried 2 sensors and the gauge is working but only works from 0 to -

eg if its 20 outside gauge shows -20.plug only fits one way

new bracket in rear wheel arch as well,so good earth

ideas before i pull the dash apart to check gauge is wired up the right way?