Temp gauge question.

[jb1390]

I looked around the top of the radiator and found no small hose but I'll look harder when I can get it out into some daylight.

The only odd thing I have found is a steel whatamacallit in line with the lower radiator hose. There are two metal plugs in it but I haven't determined what function it has if any. Just a big hose in and a big hose out. I'm sure they didn't pay for something to do nothing that has no function. Maybe a good place to tap in a cab heater return line or somesuch. I'm also very new to this oil burner stuff so still have much to learn. Although when they say compact tractor they really mean it. I thought it was tight under the hood of my truck but this looks tighter.

Post a photo of the engine and radiator from the top, and one of us may be able to point out the hose to you. It's a 3/8" coolant hose, assuming your tractor has an EGR and associated air bleed hose. I've not been under the hood of a 1538 so cannot confirm this is the issue until I see a picture.

The steel block is to thread in a coolant heater without having to disconnect the setup. It may be used for heat on cab models also - but my 3550 open station has that plug, and the coolant heater threaded into it.

 

[jb1390]

If you have that hose your temps will be very low because much of the coolant is by passing the thermostat .
There is another thread all about this I had tested the sensor and gauge including all wiring before finding out the real problem.

You're welcome :thumbsup:

Too bad it took a customer to figure this out for Mahindra. And apparently they still haven't informed all their dealers that this is an issue across multiple models. Crazy, especially given how easy it is to fix.

 

[dickfoster]

Post a photo of the engine and radiator from the top, and one of us may be able to point out the hose to you. It's a 3/8" coolant hose, assuming your tractor has an EGR and associated air bleed hose. I've not been under the hood of a 1538 so cannot confirm this is the issue until I see a picture.

The steel block is to thread in a coolant heater without having to disconnect the setup. It may be used for heat on cab models also - but my 3550 open station has that plug, and the coolant heater threaded into it.

Well it's good to know that my guess wasn't completely wrong. So adding a block heater is so stupid simple, I wonder why they try to get so much for them. I didn't but almost got it. At least I won't have to yank any freeze plugs if I install one later on.

I still haven't found anything like the coolant hose you guys are talking about. I have a Tier4 tractor so would that have anything to do with it? I'll take a closer look when I get it outside.
All I see on the exhaust manifold is a CAT, says ecocat, and something that looks like a filter can of some sort, likely a simple muffler. The dealer put a spark arrestor on it too so maybe it didn't even need that.

 

[jb1390]

Well it's good to know that my guess wasn't completely wrong. So adding a block heater is so stupid simple, I wonder why they try to get so much for them. I didn't but almost got it. At least I won't have to yank any freeze plugs if I install one later on.

I still haven't found anything like the coolant hose you guys are talking about. I have a Tier4 tractor so would that have anything to do with it? I'll take a closer look when I get it outside.
All I see on the exhaust manifold is a CAT, says ecocat, and something that looks like a filter can of some sort, likely a simple muffler. The dealer put a spark arrestor on it too so maybe it didn't even need that.

The Tier 4 models are the only ones that have problems, since they incorporate an EGR, and hence an EGR cooler. It's actually on the intake, not the exhaust. On mine, it connects from the EGR which is integral with the intake, and then to the top of the radiator.

 

[dickfoster]

The Tier 4 models are the only ones that have problems, since they incorporate an EGR, and hence an EGR cooler. It's actually on the intake, not the exhaust. On mine, it connects from the EGR which is integral with the intake, and then to the top of the radiator.

Well then I have that but I took it for PCV since it was connected to the intake and appears to be connected to the crankcase then another line down to what looks like it may be a smog pump. The can of sorts with three hoses sits right next to the thermostat housing bolted to a bracket but doesn't appear to be connected. Don't see a connection to the cooling system anywhere but I'll look closer out in the light.

 

[Jabonee]

I recently got a 1538, it's my first tractor. I spent a few hours on it today running mostly around 1500 RPM with the backhoe, yet to date I've never seen the temperature gauge register anything but stone cold. Is this normal or is the gauge busted on this brand new machine? The temperature out today was mild, in the high 60s and low 70s so I expected after a couple of hours of run time to see at least some reading on the gauge.

Just spoke to my DSR. The temp gauge issue is a software problem. It is fairly easily corrected. It will require a service call if you have internet access. If not it has to go to the dealership for reprogramming.Call your dealer if you have this issue and make sure they get your DSR involved. Your dealer may not know about the ECU software correction.

 

[jb1390]

Just spoke to my DSR. The temp gauge issue is a software problem. It is fairly easily corrected. It will require a service call if you have internet access. If not it has to go to the dealership for reprogramming.Call your dealer if you have this issue and make sure they get your DSR involved. Your dealer may not know about the ECU software correction.

Jabonee, have you checked a 1538 using an independent temperature sensor (like a thermocouple), to see if it is actually getting up to temperature when showing cold on the gauge? On my machine, it would reach 130 degrees on my independent meter - but not go higher. That's hot enough to register a change in resistance like the OP has, but not as hot as it's supposed to be. Mahindra told me that my issue was software as well.......maybe it is on some machines, and it's hardware on others, but at this point I'm slightly skeptical.

OP, do you have access to a thermocouple that you can use to measure the actual coolant temperature in the upper radiator hose, completely independent of the tractor setup? Even a thermometer in the top of the radiator will get you close. If that's up around 160 degrees, then I would buy that it's software.

 

[Jabonee]

Jabonee, have you checked a 1538 using an independent temperature sensor (like a thermocouple), to see if it is actually getting up to temperature when showing cold on the gauge? On my machine, it would reach 130 degrees on my independent meter - but not go higher. That's hot enough to register a change in resistance like the OP has, but not as hot as it's supposed to be. Mahindra told me that my issue was software as well.......maybe it is on some machines, and it's hardware on others, but at this point I'm slightly skeptical.

OP, do you have access to a thermocouple that you can use to measure the actual coolant temperature in the upper radiator hose, completely independent of the tractor setup? Even a thermometer in the top of the radiator will get you close. If that's up around 160 degrees, then I would buy that it's software.

I don't have a tractor here with that issue. I asked my DSR about it because of the posts here. As you know the temp sender signals the ECU. The ECU signals the gauge. He explained the ECU is set at 80c. The thermostat is at 82c. The gauge barely moves if at all when the thermostat opens. Basically the new software recalibrates the gauge.:thumbsup:

 

[cornfedhogeditor]

I looked around the top of the radiator and found no small hose but I'll look harder when I can get it out into some daylight.

The only odd thing I have found is a steel whatamacallit in line with the lower radiator hose. There are two metal plugs in it but I haven't determined what function it has if any. Just a big hose in and a big hose out. I'm sure they didn't pay for something to do nothing that has no function. Maybe a good place to tap in a cab heater return line or somesuch. I'm also very new to this oil burner stuff so still have much to learn. Although when they say compact tractor they really mean it. I thought it was tight under the hood of my truck but this looks tighter.

X2 but I didn't see the whatchamacallit, will pull it into the shop later and look again to make sure I didn't miss it. Sounds like they have rolling changes on the assembly line.

I was mowing yesterday and the temp gauge went up 1 bar and air temperature was mid 60's got excited thinking it was working, but no it was brown grass on the radiator screen

 

[cornfedhogeditor]

Don't know if it's relevant but OBDII P1801 = Transmission Clutch Interlock Safety Switch Open Circuit

I saw a reference to OBDII in the service documentation somewhere but don't see an OBDII diagnostic plug anywhere yet. If there is one, maybe it's buried behind the instrument cowling.

Max temp at only 75DegF doesn't sound quite right either.

Is this the actual description for the code? My reader is for cars and I can't find codes for Mahindra. I'm telling the reader it's a Ford.

Also should have said the air temperature is over 75degF before I see any bars.