Overheating woes
Discussion
Had a huge panic today.
I was sitting in traffic and I happened to look down and the temperature gauge was off the limit.
Needless to say, I said a few choise words, pulled over, turned the engine off, put the heater on full blast and lifted the bonnet fully expecting the fans to be working but nothing.
Now I know they were working a few weeks ago as I tested what temperature they came on at which was 90.
Whats more worrying is that the oil temperature used to sit about 30psi now its more like 15-20psi.
This is a real kick in the teeth as the car had £3100 spent on it about 6 weeks ago because of overheating and I thought it would all be sorted by now.
Please don't tell me the engine's
again.
If it is, I think this may be the final straw.
I was sitting in traffic and I happened to look down and the temperature gauge was off the limit.
Needless to say, I said a few choise words, pulled over, turned the engine off, put the heater on full blast and lifted the bonnet fully expecting the fans to be working but nothing.
Now I know they were working a few weeks ago as I tested what temperature they came on at which was 90.
Whats more worrying is that the oil temperature used to sit about 30psi now its more like 15-20psi.
This is a real kick in the teeth as the car had £3100 spent on it about 6 weeks ago because of overheating and I thought it would all be sorted by now.
Please don't tell me the engine's
again. If it is, I think this may be the final straw.
Sounds like your otter switch is playing up.
Don't panic..
Cheers,
Matt
Edited to add.. if the temperature guage was off the limit, you'd have boiled over anyway.. loadsa steam. So as you didn't see this, also suspect a slightly dodgy temperature guage.
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 9th February 16:24
Don't panic..
Cheers,
Matt
Edited to add.. if the temperature guage was off the limit, you'd have boiled over anyway.. loadsa steam. So as you didn't see this, also suspect a slightly dodgy temperature guage.
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 9th February 16:24
If the cooling system has been worked on recently, there's a definite chance it hasn't been bled fully yet. I'd check the coolant level, bleed the rad, make sure the fans do come on when you short out the otter switch, and confirm the temperature gauge shows broadly sensible values the rest of the time, before panicking. Worst comes to worst, presumably all that work comes with some form of warranty?
>> Edited by greenv8s on Monday 9th February 16:33
>> Edited by greenv8s on Monday 9th February 16:33
I have bypassed the otter swithch with a paper clip with the ignition on but still no responce (this is when the temperature is over 90).
Another possibility was the fan fuse but I have checked and that seems ok. At least I think it was the correct fuse.
I don't think it is a bad tempurature gauge as I could hear some strange gurgling comming from the water system.
I can't think of anything else to try.
>> Edited by chimpy_bob on Monday 9th February 18:18
Another possibility was the fan fuse but I have checked and that seems ok. At least I think it was the correct fuse.
I don't think it is a bad tempurature gauge as I could hear some strange gurgling comming from the water system.
I can't think of anything else to try.
>> Edited by chimpy_bob on Monday 9th February 18:18
relay would be next step, i'd suggest, but check the fuse again anyway. should be big 40A, orange.
they usually have big scorch marks on them if they go!
check you have 12v on one of the leads to the otter switch.
15-20 psi is about right at idle when warm.
there should have been lots of steam when you switched off if the guage was truly reading that high a temperature, through the blue cap on the expansion bottle ( which vents at high pressure ).
if the relay checks out then ( carefully ) take a wire to run the fans directly off the battery ( one at a time! ). fuse it ( a 30A quick blow should do it ). seems unlikely that they would both pack up though.
good luck, and don't panic yet!
they usually have big scorch marks on them if they go!
check you have 12v on one of the leads to the otter switch.
15-20 psi is about right at idle when warm.
there should have been lots of steam when you switched off if the guage was truly reading that high a temperature, through the blue cap on the expansion bottle ( which vents at high pressure ).
if the relay checks out then ( carefully ) take a wire to run the fans directly off the battery ( one at a time! ). fuse it ( a 30A quick blow should do it ). seems unlikely that they would both pack up though.
good luck, and don't panic yet!
I once had the wires from the fan allegedly fall across the exhaust manifold and burn though, thus causing the fans not to come on. You might want to check that.
More likely though is that the contacts in the electrical connector to your fans have corroded. It tends to sit in a puddle when the engine bay gets wet and then the contacts rust.
Locate the connector by following the wires back from the fan, open it up, and then use a fine file to get the rust off the contacts. Spray them with electrical connector cleaner and reassemble and your fans may well start working again.
>> Edited by JonRB on Monday 9th February 20:26
More likely though is that the contacts in the electrical connector to your fans have corroded. It tends to sit in a puddle when the engine bay gets wet and then the contacts rust.
Locate the connector by following the wires back from the fan, open it up, and then use a fine file to get the rust off the contacts. Spray them with electrical connector cleaner and reassemble and your fans may well start working again.
>> Edited by JonRB on Monday 9th February 20:26
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