Freelander 1 [SOLVED] 1.8 K 2001 - Cold start problem

Nodge68 said:

You have the wrong sensor fitted. The sensor with the offset plug location tab is blue. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/333296506755

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assuming that the plug it's the fabrication one

RAVE RAVE...my vin it's 1A...so I need MEK100170L...which is labeled water/oil temperature

I ordered now FACET 7.3272 since it's equiv to MEK100170L, and I'll return the new brown version, purchased after the one which what was fitted years ago by who knows.

K Series Coolant Temperature ECU Sensor Types - What Have You Got?

When I had a good look at my car, although it did have the brown temperature sensor it actually had the loom connector for the black sender.

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With the new sensor, the ECU reports temperatures around 7°C higher than the gauge shows. These temperatures make a lot more sense, and in addition the fan switches on with the ECU indicating 92°C over OBDII and switches off again with the ECU indicating 88°C, which is in almost perfect agreement with the fan thermoswitch rated temperatures of 92°C and 87°C.

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louis77 said:

K Series Coolant Temperature ECU Sensor Types - What Have You Got?

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Just checked. Mine is black (original), but has the offset tab like a blue one.

louis77 said:

tested also the oil sensor resistance...and got 3.21K..while the water had 2.72K with cold engine; I belive they uses the same kind of termistors.

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Freelander 1.8 K Series Engine

Coolant temperature sensor

• Make/Type

• AB Electronik - MEK 100170; NTC thermistor bead

Oil temperature sensor

• Make/Type

• AB Electronik - MEK 100170; NTC thermistor bead

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I tested yesterday the oil and water sensor at the ECM plug end, on cold engine... so the resistances are different...supposing that the oil sensor it's the defult black MEK100170;
in actual config..with brown sensor..ECM thinks that water temperature it's hotter than it is.;

le: this could lead to cold start problems (less fuel injected on cold start because the fuel ratio is calculated at a high temperature) and at the other end .. the fan starts up faster than it should ... maintaining the temperature engine lower than it should be, but I don't think it can be a problem in general, because cooling is guaranteed by the thermostat that opens the circuit through the radiator independent of ECM

I received the correct sensor. I tested it (while mixing) on water + ice mixture and gives 6.9K ohm (5.5K the brown one) , so uses a thermistor with other characteristics.

The supreme test will be next morning, with the sensor attached on ECM's plug

Problem solved.

I waited a little for the cold to come, lately it was warm in the mornings; today I had some ice on the car and with an infrared thermometer around -0.5 in the thermostat area; started at the first key; ever since I changed the sensor, with the cold engine, always started at the first key.

le:
and I changed the sensor for a few days; the old one, brown(incorrectly mounted by someone in the past), I unpacked it with a 19-inch tubular wrench, immediately screwing in the new sensor; the new one had a metal gasket and although I bought a screw locking adhesive, I didn't use it because I had to empty most of the coolant, dry the place and it seemed too complicated; after I started it with the new sensor I went for about 10 minutes and at the stop the fans started at low speed; probably some air left; that's why I delayed the answer a bit, to see how it behaves with the sensor and at high temperatures but now it's good, the water in the expansion vessel has decreased, so it has been removed from the air.

Thanks for closing out with solution and result !

Please edit thread title to 'solved' - helps others when searching.

Wow he did it!!

andyfreelandy said:

Wow he did it!!

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yes, editing the title .. well hidden, I have posted on forums but I have never found editing the title so well hidden

what's great is that i have this problem since i have a car .. about 10 years. now that I have solved it .. I will get a new car

Yes maybe.... But the satisfaction is unrivalled!

louis77 said:

Problem solved

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Excellent.

louis77 said:

and I changed the sensor for a few days; the old one, brown(incorrectly mounted by someone in the past)

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I knew it was the wrong sensor, as the brown one is for the gauge on the pre 2000 1.8.

It's good to draw a line under something.

-6C this morning; the engine started at first key.