Anyone had a problem with this guage? I'm fairly sure it's the sensor but I want to rule everything out,it's slowly got worse to the point where it stays on 50 and occasionally flashes the fault light. The needle was erratic but worked,I've checked all connections and wires and they look in good condition.
Any help would be apprieciated,Andy

 

Could put a voltmeter across the feeds from the sensor to the gauge and check to see if there's an intermittent fault with sensor?

It'd depend on how they're wired though. If there is only one feed wire from the sensor to the gauge then that'll be the feed to check and then have the other probe on an earth

 

Check first that it goes through the startup sweep and shows a light.

Try earthing the outside of the sender by touching a piece of wire to the outside of it and to the engine block, or battery -ve.

Where is the sender?

 

Yeah goes through the sweep and just stays on 50 even when warm and occasionally warning flashes. I've noticed the replacement sensors come with a support spring on the wires going to the sensor so I'm wondering if the wires become damaged over time (mine doesn't have the spring)
Sensor is on the oil filter sandwich plate

 

Oil filter sandwich plate??????? I'm outta here.........

Seriously, WHY? The best, nay the only, place for an oil temperature gauge on a Scoob is above cylinder No3, in the tappings that Subaru placed there for that purpose. Cylinder No3 runs hot, so it's best to know what the oil is doing in the galleries above it. At the oil filter the best you get is an average reading, lower than in the galleries. You have the best gauge, give it a chance to work properly.

I'm not a fan of sandwich plates...they use gaskets, which means the earth path isn't true.

Try what I said about earthing the outside of the sender, otherwise it's beg, borrow or buy a new sender to try.

 

The gauges were in when I bought the car so don't blame me lol. I have seen that the sandwich plates are not the best thing (especially the distance from filter to road!). I'll try relocating it but it's been fine the last few weeks so I'm guessing the senders goosed,I'll try earthing it too

 

Could be.

I assume you've been over the wiring from sender to gauge VARY carefully, looking for burns, scuffing, or even a break? Also check the two connectors: there's one near the sender, and one at the gauge. Ensure both are clean, not corroded and the one at the gauge is fully inserted.

 

Yeah all checked and the wiring looks good,I'm surprised how flimsy the wires are to the sender and the location isn't exactly ideal so close to the road surface. Thanks for the help

 

Road surface? Another good reason to put it on top of the engine, then route the wires to the bulkhead.