Overheating Tamora - advice please

[Stats2909]

Evening all, it's been a while (many years of non-participation and no TVR driving!)

I ran my 2005 Tamora for the first time in 3 years today, and although the battery needed help, she started and ran beautifully... no dramas, no seized brakes, clutch was fine, gears were fine, in fact it was looking exceedingly good!

Then a puff of steam from the expansion tank... temp up at 104. Engine off home to consider things!

Just been back and done/seen the following:
1) Added about 1/2 pint of new coolant into the expansion tank which was empty, it seemed to hold level at at 50% full
2) Started the car, ran it for a while, observed bubbling in the expansion tank but level stayed pretty consistent
3) Fan one came on about 75, fan two about 85 (very small time gap between these)
4) Squeezed the hose coming out of the top of the radiator at about (nothing happened no bubbling anywhere and it felt empty)
5) I replaced the expansion tank cap and continued to watch temps
6) Observed the water temp rising (oil still about rising nicely and at about 47 at this point)
7) Turned on the cabin heater to hot, no hot air came out, not even a cough! Cold air was ok.
8) Watched the temp climb to 100 - water sensor error showed (think as temp flipped the 100 mark - or close to it)
9) Turned everything off to have a think before any more overheating

Looked over the engine observing:
1) No drips or leaks, no fluids on the ground
2) The expansion tank was cool to the touch
3) Touched the swirl tank (Think thats what the vertical metal column with the slotted 'cap' is called, it was very hot
4) Touched the lower radiator hose, it was very hot
5) Touched the top radiator hose, it was very cold (and still empty feeling)

Any thoughts or advice? (I'm suspecting a blocked rad or similar, but I'm not an expert - or particularly knowledgeable!)

Thanks,
Matt

[Mr.Chips]

Sounds like an airlock or dodgy thermostat to me. Although, please bear in mind, I am not a mechanic!
A few years ago, I had my T350C fitted with a modification to auto-bleed the cooling system and prevent any airlocks. It was supplied/fitted by Track V Road in Clitheroe.
Hope that helps.

Edited by Mr.Chips on Sunday 12th April 20:07

[Stats2909]

Thanks for your advice, it sounds solid, mechanic or not. My mechanically minded father recommended changing the thermostat, so it's now on the 'to-do' list!