Discussion
Next time you are driving along and something doesn't quite look right (Temperature guage bouncing around all over the place, misty steam billowing into the car), stop and call the AA (or whoever you are a member with).
Unfortunately, I didn't. It was 1:30am on the M11 and I thought I could get it home and sort it out in the morning. Phone battery was nearly dead and the thought of sitting on the hard shoulder awaiting recovery was just not going to happen.
As a result of that stupidty, my car has done a head gasket. Engine out etc etc. An expensive lesson to learn.
On the plus side, my 60k mile engine will be getting a freshen up at the same time.
Any suggestions as to what else I should have done at the same time? (It's a 4.2 so RR etc isn't on the cards.)
Scott
Unfortunately, I didn't. It was 1:30am on the M11 and I thought I could get it home and sort it out in the morning. Phone battery was nearly dead and the thought of sitting on the hard shoulder awaiting recovery was just not going to happen.
As a result of that stupidty, my car has done a head gasket. Engine out etc etc. An expensive lesson to learn.
On the plus side, my 60k mile engine will be getting a freshen up at the same time.
Any suggestions as to what else I should have done at the same time? (It's a 4.2 so RR etc isn't on the cards.)
Scott
Mines the opposite, I've had my gaskets replaced & my temp gauge has occasionally bounced around since the gasket replacement. I can actually hear it click, when it does it.
No steam or loss of water, I'm pleased to say.
They'll probably advise on a new timing chain & rebuild your oil pump.
Get them to do any oil leaks (front pulley is a favourite)
No steam or loss of water, I'm pleased to say.
They'll probably advise on a new timing chain & rebuild your oil pump.
Get them to do any oil leaks (front pulley is a favourite)
Far Eastender said:
I'm driving a Speed 6 and the temperature gets upto 110C in traffic, before the fans kick in and take it back to 100 (normal driving is at about 80c and 4 bar oil).
Is this right or do I need a new thermostat? A new radiator was fitted last week.
I would think your guage is over-reading. The fans kick in at 100 and 105 (I believe) and read direct from the ecu which should be more reliable. Do you have a laptop and the software? You could do the diagnostic yourself if you have.
dean_ratpac said:
scott sorry to hear this! how long is this going to take to fix?
Not sure yet. It depends on Jamie of TVR Power's schedule. I'm thinking that it would be sensible to have the shells and rings done at the same time considering the mileage. Possibly a new set of silicone hoses as well. Some of them looked a bit tired. I might even ask the lads at SP if they mind me coming down with a wire brush and some POR15 and having a go at the chassis in that area whilst its out.
Not too sure about doing head porting and stuff, I'd only get carried away and want loads of other mods to make the most of it. Money is an issue although I won't be going for the cheapest option. Might as well make the most of a bad situation.
With retrospect I think mine was caused by large amount of air passing past the sender. Sometimes they flick a bit but when I mean mine was going mental, it was jumping from 70 to 100psi (on the oil scale!) and around again within the space of a second and doing this pretty much constantly. It did settle at a solid 100 for a while.
You might just have a slight airlock Ridds.
You might just have a slight airlock Ridds.
ridds said:
Anyone know the cause of this bouncy guage syndrome? Mine was doing this over the weekend, no issues with temps but is a little un-nerving.
Quite possibly an air lock, any air running arund the system will be alot hotter than the coolent around it, with a capilary gague like in the cerb it could cause it to bounce.
purpleheadedcerb said:
Next time you are driving along and something doesn't quite look right (Temperature guage bouncing around all over the place, misty steam billowing into the car), stop and call the AA (or whoever you are a member with).
Souds like the head gasket faild and then caused the gauge to bounce? If so check for a snapped head bolt, ive heard a couple of people talking about it recently.
[ramble]Just had a thought, is it you that has just had the heater matrix trouble? This could have introduced an air lock, if it gets stuck then released when the engine block is hot then when the air hit the hot block it can expand rapidly causing something similar to what you have, I remenber a simlar problem many years back on an astra deisel, it actually blew a hole in my new heater matrix that I had just fitted because I didnt bleed it properly.[/ramble]
Sorry for the rambling, I do tend to go on for a while! anyway did I tell you about the time ..............................
Yes heater matrix went, causing loss of water and the rest is history as they say. I'm just praying for as little collateral damage as possible. It drove nicely over to SP for the major service like this and temp didn't go over 90 and that was with a bit of Northampton traffic to contend with? Steady as a rock this time as I had bypassed the heater matrix curcuit.
sorry to hear that, scott. hope you can make one of our kettering meets....pub banter, drowing sorrows etc. 
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