Temp Sensor Issues HELP!

[GodofCod]

Hi All,

When I got my 1990 1.8 Golf GTI Cab, the temp gauge on the dashboard went straight to hot as soon as the engine was switched on & the coolant level light flashed, it has since stopped working all together & I get to temp reading at all!! it doesn't move & the light doesn't flash anymore (does come on with dash lights).

I guessed this may be a case of changing the temp sensor as I have seen this on other threads, but...

I ordered a coolant temp sensor from VW but it doesn't match my one, mine has a pin & is screwed into the housing, the one I brought from VW has no pin, just a flat sensor & a push in O ring fitting. Am I trying the change the wrong sensor? It is the one right in front of the engine? at the front of the engine before the rad? Of perhaps has the housing & sensor been changed to an aftermarket one? (it looks dodgy with red sealant between it & the engine)

Can anyone shed any light on this? I would be very grateful of any ideas! 

[itavaltalainen]

if the gauge shoots striaght to hot on gauge then the wiring is likely to short to ground somewhere, or the sender is daft.
unplug the cable from near the coolant flange, still shooting up the its wiring, if not then sensor

wrote this for mk3s but similar on the old mk2, except it wont have a double sender but two separate ones i think

http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=719242