MK4 Golf Temperature Gauge Sat Just Above 90 Degrees

[ARW-360]

Hi there please help...
I have a 52 plate Mk4 Golf 1.4 petrol and recently noticed the temperature gauge on my dashboard sits just above the 90 degree mark when its warmed up. It used to sit dead on the 90 mark.

I was told it could be the thermostat so i had that replaced but still it sits only slightly above the 90 degree mark at about 95 degrees.

PLEASE HELP!!

[herby0001]

If you get plugged in with VAG-COM, you can see what the engine temperature reading actually is. I think Crasher once said that in the Mk4, the gauge shows 90C but the real temperature can be say +- 10C (something like that). Basically, the gauge doesn't budge away from 90C unless the engine does start to get too hot or cold.

I guess it could be one of these:
- the coolant temperature sender is giving a false reading (too high) so it sends the gauge up;
- the engine is actually getting too hot;
- the gauge is displaying incorrectly.

[ARW-360]

Thank you for the reply after the engine had properly cooled down and i went to use it again from cold and the car seemed to reset itself, all power cut out including all dials on the dashboard, clock, miles, everything just turned off when i turned the ignition. I got out and locked and unlocked the car again and it seemed to be fine and the temperature reading now sits dead on 90 again which proves it was the thermostat that was faulty. BUT the car now continues to cut out and reset on random occasions when i turn on the ignition. What could this be???? PLEASE HELP

[herby0001]

...the temperature reading now sits dead on 90 again which proves it was the thermostat that was faulty.

Does it? What you do have is probably a faulty relay or a poor earth somewhere.