help.....constant overheating

[tvrblue]

Can any one offer advice to a miserable 4.0l chim owner. It all started with fans not working causing clouds of steam from the pressure cap...luckily only 400 yds from home so seconds to stop and switch off. Faulty otter confirmed by the paper clip emergency work around....fans now on perm...just need a new switch.

However having made sure swirl pot and expansion tank levels topped up...... as soon as the thermostat opens and temp starts to climb I get lots of boiling sounds and steam/water fizzing out of the pressure cap. Temperature is only 60 degrees at this point (expansion tank hot, top water hose to rad getting hot - but not super hot!!).

So can't drive it, can't fix it, lifes just not worth living!!

Help.......TVR....very blue

[M@H]

sounds like the system isn't bled properly.. you'll have some air in it in odd places after the overheat I expect...

[shpub]

You probably need a new radiator cap as when the car over heats it can kill the cap so that it doesn't seal and when the coolent expands... out it comes. It's from an early VW Golf.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Qube]

According to VW dealer and Audi/VW specialist there is only one version of the blue cap available.

[incorrigible]

I'd agree with M@ there's a bleed valve on top of the rad (driver side 16 mm nut if I remember right) please check that the rad is full before you drive any further

[shpub]

Qube said: According to VW dealer and Audi/VW specialist there is only one version of the blue cap available.

Hmmm not according to my local one... Yes there is only one type used currently but that is different from the version used on the Griff. The one you need is an old one that is no longer in stock and is a special order at around £10. Halfords sell it for about £4.

[ATG]

probably both right ... the VW caps don't always survive a release and if you've blown a load of coolant, then topping up the swirl pot and expansion tank alone is probably not enough.
You'll need to go through the process of bleeding the system which is a bit of a pain as it is prone to airlocks. (Described on several other threads, but along lines of ... engine off and stone cold ... heater control to maximum heat to open up heater matrix ... radiator bleed screw out, fill from swirl pot until no more bubbles coming out of bleed hole in radiator (i.e; water is running out clear) ... bleed screw back into radiator ... turn engine on and keep filling like mad through the swirlpot till no more goes in.)

>> Edited by ATG on Monday 4th November 16:55

[tantivy]

Qube said: According to VW dealer and Audi/VW specialist there is only one version of the blue cap available.

Strangely, my other car's an Audi, so couldn't wait to swap the radiator cap in a 'test this thread' type of manner. Yes they are the same and have number '321' on them somewhere... or was it '312'? (anyhoo...) Yes, I know it's sad - speaking of which, anyone heard from Scruff lately?? Has he gawn AWOL?

[tvrblue]

Thanks all for the advice.....new pressure cap being picked up in next few days and then I'll attempt to bleed the system.

Fingers crossed!!

Cheers

Tvrblue

[GreenV8S]

Can any one offer advice to a miserable 4.0l chim owner. It all started with fans not working causing clouds of steam from the pressure cap...luckily only 400 yds from home so seconds to stop and switch off. Faulty otter confirmed by the paper clip emergency work around....fans now on perm...just need a new switch.

However having made sure swirl pot and expansion tank levels topped up...... as soon as the thermostat opens and temp starts to climb I get lots of boiling sounds and steam/water fizzing out of the pressure cap. Temperature is only 60 degrees at this point (expansion tank hot, top water hose to rad getting hot - but not super hot!!).

So can't drive it, can't fix it, lifes just not worth living!!

Help.......TVR....very blue

Getting to this a bit late, and sorry to be a pessimist, but that's one possible symptom of a blown head gasket (combustion gas blowing into water jacket). Would be worth checking for emulsion in oil, oil or crud in water.