Temperature gauge false reading.

Hi
I have RR 2002 and the heater hoses were removed (before I got the car) and they put a robber cap in the tubes that feed the heater. Today one of those caps broke and obviously the car overheated. The issue is that the temperature gauge never move over the o'clock position and I didn't notice that the car was overheated until it turn off the engine. Is that because a faulty temperature sensor? I had a previous overheat problem and it seems that the temp sensor was not working properly cause it only move to the over heat position when I stopped the vehicle but this time it never move. Other than that the car runs fine with no temp issues.

Any ideas? I was thinking on replacing the temp sensor but does not want to throw money away.

it could be a faulty sensor depending on petrol or diesel there is a few different ones most expensive is £22 from landrover but the sensor sends a feed to the becm so you might have a corroded terminal on the becm under the driver seat also there is some connectors in the drivers side footwell that corrode up as water comes in thru the pollen filter housing straight on to the connectors, otherwise it might be worth going on diagnostics to do a live test and see the reading the sensors are sending out

Petrol. At least in the morning when I start it it read as it is cold and it goes up until normal operation. but apparently it does not go any further and the light did not lit when I had the problem this morning. So I should discard the gauge itself.

it might be worth having the gauge check or another setof clocks put in but you might have to get the mileage reset to what is in your car

It work when you put the key in the II position and the light indicator lit also. So I guest the gauge is in good shape. Also in the mornings it goes from the far left to the middle gradually while the car is warming up.

Only way to test is to swap it out or apply heat in the form of boiling water to the Area. Dunno if that's possible tho on your engine without taking it out. For the price of them I would swap it.

if it has over heated, the gauge may not show the actual engine temp if there is air in the cooling system, the sensor relies on water to get the correct temp, if there is air there, the sensor will only read the air temp, not the water temp, the water will be hotter that the air, hence the gauge staying where it is. sort your water leak and thoroughly bleed the system.

This morning I was taking a look to locate the temp sensor and notice that it is near the returning pipe of the heater. Since the previews owner remove those hoses and put caps there, the water is not running in that pipe. Maybe that is the issue. I will put a hose connecting the pipe that goes to the heater and the return pipe to allow water to flow correctly and fortunately won't have this problem again. Anyway I have seen threads of airlock here. How do I get rid of it?