Expert diesel 1.9 temperature gauge fault

[john mac]

temperature gauge rises to max back zero 3 times, no glow plug light, wont start

[davidireland]

A bit more backround to the problem may be helpful?
Any work done on it lately?

[john mac]

engine making hell of noise while driving temp guagegoing back an forth then it would stop,run fine for a few miles repeat again got home ,next morning tried to start,no glow plug light temp guage up an down 3 times then stop, wont start

[Handyandy-UK]

Ok, time to revive this thread as all of a sudden my 55 plate Epert 1.9D is doing pretty much the same as this chaps was. A thread search has shown this set of symptoms seems to come up a fair bit, yet none of the threads have an answer.

So to reiterate - Ignition on... all check lights come on less glowplugs.... check lights go out less battery.
While the check lights are on, the temp guage needle goes from 0 to max 3 times before stopping on 0.
The engine does start and run but it rattles like a WW1 tank !

No engine work done.

Only known fault is nearside dip beam dead - lamp blown

Only other curiousity is a hose coming from underside of black plastic cannister (I'm assuming fuel filter of some kind) ... the other end goes nowhere. The hose it about 300mm long and roughly 6mm dia rubber.