Running Hot

[gazzab]

Guys - need some advice , car runs hot. Struggles to get below 105 in med flow traffic in this weather. Got to 110 occaisionally and above that for a very short period. Even in fast moving it doesnt much go below 100. Is fine in norm temps.
The fans come on etc.....
Am going to find the fan connections (think they are under the 'scuttle plate' behind rad) and will clean connections.
Am going to hook up a lap top to compare actuals from ECU (think it is prob 10 deg over reading on the gauge).
What other options are there? eg Steve has got a grat digital display plus a different thermostatic set up, Joolz provides a chip to bring on fans earlier, I could try bleeding the system, could try wetter water..... Anything else? eg new thermostat?
Thanks
Gary

[thegreengoblet]

Had something similar recently - seemed to be running far hotter than usual and fans seemed to be ok - even the temp would come down but not to 'normal'. Initially put it down to the hot weather. However on a longish run she eventually p*ssed water out from the expansion tank - luckily I'd just arrived at Fernies. Turned out to be a clip leaking water. Guess must of been causing air to get into the system/loss of pressure hence water not being pumped around through the Rad at the correct flow rate. They tried tightening the clip but no luck so it was a new clip. She's back to normal now and no problems since even in the hot weather.

[ridds]

If the fans are cutting in at the same temp on the guage inside the car then I expect it's just a dodgy guage Gary.

I have heard horror stories about Head Gaskets failing recently though, apparently queuing cars out of an Dealers door so many are going.

[mikesr]

If the fans are coming on then the connectors should be OK. But check the temp on the logging display with the laptop. Make sure its fairly consistent not fluctuating wildly
My temp sensor connector was full of crud and the 'temp' was bouncing around as the resistance across the connector varied the voltage that the ecu was seeing.

Bleed the radiator. If there is a lot of air then you likely have a leak somewhere.

My radiator drove me mad with air. I had to bleed it every week at least. Joolz finally found a microscopic leak where it was rusting at a top N/S joint. Replaced under warranty and all is well with the engine cooling system. (And to take its place I had the handbrake and AC vying for most irritating thing not working )

The chip to bring the fans in sooner definitely keeps the temp under better control, particularly in slow traffic. Likewise an override switch. The fans kick in sevral degrees after the thermostat opens and then have a major job to try to get the temp back down. Anything that opens them sooner than the standard temps is a good thing.

mikesr

[simonsparrow]

I've noticed that on very hot days, the car still runs hot at speed, turning on the fans (I have an override switch) does bring the temperature down, so I think under some conditions, its lack of airflow through the engine bay that is not helping.

For next year I'm thinking bonnet vents or something to try and alleviate this.

[cossiemetro]

the cooling fans only simulate upto 30 mph airflow as i wanted to use a rear mounted air/air intercooler in the rear of a car and use big pace fans they told this infp

[neil0205]

mine was running hot so i bought a chip from trackcar solutions for 65quid and this sorted problem.it`s easy to fit just replace chip thats there.It`s behind the carpet in the passenger footwell.http://trackcarsolutions.net/shop/ind

[philcerbera]

gazzab said:

Guys - need some advice , car runs hot. Struggles to get below 105 in med flow traffic in this weather. Got to 110 occaisionally and above that for a very short period. Even in fast moving it doesnt much go below 100. Is fine in norm temps.
The fans come on etc.....
Am going to find the fan connections (think they are under the 'scuttle plate' behind rad) and will clean connections.
Am going to hook up a lap top to compare actuals from ECU (think it is prob 10 deg over reading on the gauge).
What other options are there? eg Steve has got a grat digital display plus a different thermostatic set up, Joolz provides a chip to bring on fans earlier, I could try bleeding the system, could try wetter water..... Anything else? eg new thermostat?
Thanks
Gary

I had a similar problem last year. Joolz diagnosed it as a leaky/broken Y-joint behind the expansion tank. A common fault apparently. I also had the ECU upgrade to turn the fans on earlier and it now never goes above 100 degrees - even today!

[cossiemetro]

i think i might buy said chip just as a precaution i think

[gazzab]

Just ordered the chip. Comes with wetter water as well.
So hopefully Joolz will shove it int post soon and I will have a better behaved tem gauge.

[gazzab]

Excellent service from Trackcar. Received emails on Tuesday with fitting instructions. A delivery company tried to deliver the chip and wetter water today. So a big thumbs up to Joolz for speedy service. Inventor, poster x 2 and tuner.