Over Heating

[glenc]

Any help please. I think I need to bleed the radiator. Any tips on how to do this as the bleed valve on the top of the radiator looks very difficult to get at as it tips forward with the bonnet.

[page3]

Not much help, but must have been changed on the S3 as the radiator on my S stays put, therefore easy to get at.

[Wiz]

The rad should be fixed to the chassis at the front if not the hoses and connections arn't going to work for long.

[Last S4]

page3 said:

Not much help, but must have been changed on the S3 as the radiator on my S stays put, therefore easy to get at.

My S4c radiator tips with the bonnet too.

[bridgdav]

Last S4 said:

page3 said:

Not much help, but must have been changed on the S3 as the radiator on my S stays put, therefore easy to get at.

My S4c radiator tips with the bonnet too.

Really..?

Mine is rigidly mounted, but is lent forward as part of the design..
Someone post a body off pic to show it..

[glenc]

Mine is a S1.5 and does tip forward

[glenc]

Maybe mine is leant forward but still difficult to get at bleed valve.

[Jaye R]

Photo with bonnet off - shows radiator fixed at a tilt (bleed valve top right as you look)...



Also (bleed valve top left as you look at this one):



If you take of the wheel covers from the inside of the bonnet, this may give you more room to reach the bleed valve.

Cheers
Jaye

[Last S4]

bridgdav said:

Really..?

Mine is rigidly mounted, but is lent forward as part of the design..
Someone post a body off pic to show it..

Hope this works!

[bridgdav]

And another one..!



Rigidly mounted laying forward. 2 bolts on the top. pegs at the bottom
Bleed nipple top corner nearest you in this pic.

[glenc]

Is it easy to remove the bonnet? If so any tips?

[bridgdav]

glenc said:

Is it easy to remove the bonnet? If so any tips?

I wouldn't if I were you..! Alignment is a real pain as far as I know..

Get the car high up on stands, remove the passenger side front wheel..
Lift the bonnet past the usual 60 degrees. Make sure you have some rope to tie the bonnet back or it will over open and damage the pivots.

You should have enough access to get in there..

[glenc]

Thanks for all the advice.

[Russ35]

I always park the car on a pair of these so that I can get better access. They are for levelling caravans/motorhomes. If you get the wheels up to the top lip, you will have raised it about 7-8cm which is then sufficient to put the bonnet right up, although it will still catch the ground. I got them from Halfords.

[GreenV8S]

various said:

it tips forward with the bonnet.

It doesn't, unless there's something seriously wrong with your car.

You only need to pick the car up by a couple of inches to get the bonnet open much much further. Four inches is enough to get the bonnet almost vertical (watch out for it scraping on the ground especially those indicators) which gives you excellent access to the whole thing.

If you need to get even better access then with the car lifted up four inches so the bonnet will stand almost vertical, the bonnet will open far enough to sit on the front opening. By unscrewing the two pivot bolts and disconnecting the electrics and fresh air ducts you can completely remove the bonnet and it will happily balance there. Obviously you need to have something soft under it to protect the paintwork, and best remove the indicator covers since those are the lowest point. As long as you only unscrew the pivot bolts and don't disturb any of the adjusters it will go back in the same place. You would only really need to do this if you were working on the front of the rad though. Justing opening it right up gives enough access to remove the radiator etc.

[Last S4]

Last S4 said:

page3 said:

Not much help, but must have been changed on the S3 as the radiator on my S stays put, therefore easy to get at.

My S4c radiator tips with the bonnet too.

I am mistaken, my radiator is fixed at an angle - Doh.

[Gerald-TVR]

Useful trick



Just put some carpet on the garage door to protect the bonnet

[glenc]

Good tips, thanks a lot