Overheating / Thermostat costs ?

[RUSSELLM]

Whilst sat in traffic yesterday, my temp guage went over 100, the fan kicked in but didn't get the temp down like it normally does.

When I got to work there was steam coming from the expansion tank,

The oil & water hav'nt mixed (so hopefully the gasket's o.k.) & there's no water loss, so everything is pointing to a duff thermostat.

Has anyone had a thermostat replaced, parts cost / labour hours ?

I can then decide if I want to use the second of my three AA warranty lives

[paulk]

Mine used to do that a lot, it may not be the stats but the radiator. Its not really up to the job. I had a upgrade from Jools and its now fine in traffic.

[kojak]

Have you got an air lock?

[joospeed]

kojak said:

Have you got an air lock?

how much are they and where from?

[RUSSELLM]

kojak said:

Have you got an air lock?

Not sure & too idle & stupid to look at it myself

I've ordered a thermostat from a dealer (£42 plus vat) & it's an hour to fit it (I think)

I'll let Dr. Mike see if it's an airlock though

Thanks all

[Mad Mark]

Speaking of radiators and thermostats.
On my way home today, stuck in taffic sun beaming down, my temp was regularly hitting the 105c mark. Nothing too strange in that, according to these forums.
But when I got home I felt the rad and found it to be cold, so I was wondering if this was normal?
Maybe the fans are very efficiant, and that it is the water pump not flowing the water properly on low rpm causing the rad to cool but not the thermostat, I was tempted to try holding the car at 2500rpm and see if the temp came down but didn't want to upset the neighbours.

[Mad Mark]

P.S......42 quid for a thermostat is that really the going rate for one of these, are they made of gold or what??
PPS......what temperature rating are they? and is there a summer and winter version?

[vinny73]

Yeah £42 is strong, the dealer I used for my Grif, used to GIVE me 2 or 3for free as they were always going!!

[redleicester]

Ive got a lovely alloy radiator from Radtec and sitting on the A40 in the sun last week resulted in a rock solid 100 degrees. Didn't do much for the temperature of the driver, but the car was okay!

[RUSSELLM]

vinny73 said:

Yeah £42 is strong, the dealer I used for my Grif, used to GIVE me 2 or 3for free as they were always going!!

Ah yes, there's Rover engines & there's TVR's "you've got an AJP & we've got you by the borrocks engines"

[joospeed]

42 quid?????????? foooooooo*k. I think they're about a tenner i pay.

[dannylt]

Mad Mark said:

Speaking of radiators and thermostats. On my way home today, stuck in taffic sun beaming down, my temp was regularly hitting the 105c mark. Nothing too strange in that, according to these forums. But when I got home I felt the rad and found it to be cold, so I was wondering if this was normal?

Are you sure you weren't feeling the aircon heat exchanger in front of the Rad? There is *no way* the rad could be cool!

[Mad Mark]

oooh err, not sure. I know i wasn't touching the small one on the near side (isn't that the oil cooler). I just presumed that it was the rad you could see/touch through the front grill??

[flashheart]

I thought that until I changed the rad today. Took the broken one out and as it came out I saw another full size rad in front of it. I was quite surprised to say the least, traced the pipes and it is the rad for the air con. I always thought the one you could see through the front is 'the' rad but apparently not.

[RUSSELLM]

kojak said:

Have you got an air lock?

Quite possibly, I took the car home last night & the temp guage didn't go up. I left the car ticking over to see if it warmed up & the temp guage went down from 90 to 80 without the fans kicking in, then all of a sudden the distinct sound of "puck puck puck puck" arrived in a sort of, "your coffee's ready" stylee & steam emerged from the expansion tank.

I've got the thermostat & it's due to be fitted on Tuesday.

Can I remove an airlock myself, or shall I leave it to someone who knows what they're doing ?

[andy4200]

Make sure your expansion tank is full, cap off, engine cold.
Open the bleed bolt on the drivers side corner of the radiator. If you take it easy you should let the air out and then you'll get water. Keep the expansion tank with water in it, if it gets out of sight you just start letting air back in.
When you see water at the radiator, tighten bolt, top up expansion tank and let the engine go through a heat cycle (go for a short drive round the block till the fans kick in). Let it cool down and do the process again.

Usually takes a few cycles to get it good.

I wouldn't bother about the rails under the airbox, not really necessary.

Easy

Andy

[Mad Mark]

flashheart said:

I thought that until I changed the rad today. Took the broken one out and as it came out I saw another full size rad in front of it. I was quite surprised to say the least, traced the pipes and it is the rad for the air con. I always thought the one you could see through the front is 'the' rad but apparently not.

That explains why it feels cold then.