Overheating, fans not working , Otter ?
Discussion
Question for the PH collective... Driving home tonight sat in a traffic jam, kept an eye on the temp for the first few minutes, sat nicely at 80 fans cutting in and out so I go off into dream mode and take in the scenery. A few minutes later the revs start to pick up and shes hunting at around 1500 on tickover. Hmm thats odd. Quick guage check *feck* oil pressure 10 psi temp 110 !! Drop out of queue kill the engine just in time to see steam rising. Uh oh. Look under the bonnet and water is bubbling out under the overflow cap,and even though the ignition is still on no fans. First thought is that both fuses have somehow gone, but then I look closer and I can see both fans flicking - that is starting to turn then stopping again, both in unison. Then after a few minutes they start coming on then going off for short periods. Then eventually they both start full on. Car cools down, restart then rejoin queue (only 4 miles from home so reckon I can probably make it). Fans then die again as I reach the front of the Q, engine temp hovering around 90 - get away onto dual carriageway temp drops back to 70 for the rest of the very gentle drive home. In the end only lost about 3/4 litre of coolant and no damage seems to have been done.
So I reckon it probably isnt a bad connection as both fans are doing the same thing, my money is on a faulty otter switch. Opinions please !
Cheers
Dodsy
So I reckon it probably isnt a bad connection as both fans are doing the same thing, my money is on a faulty otter switch. Opinions please !
Cheers
Dodsy
bigdods said:
Having belatedly checked the bible I will go ahead and try that tomorrow ! Probably order a new otter anyway for peace of mind, only a few quid and (looking at the bible) a few minutes to replace.
I will be adding a length of wire to my repair kit in the boot !
I will be adding a length of wire to my repair kit in the boot !
I carry a packet of sewing needles for the otter shorting thing! (I had a 98 500 which seemed to destroy the switch at regular intervals)
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the mod-wise fan controller kit which will automatically take over if your otter switch fails.
Edited by theaxe on Thursday 15th March 09:11
Not sussed it yet, its dark when I get back from work...going to top up and bleed the cooling system at the weekend make sure I didnt pick up an airlock when it cooked. Then I can check out the fans and see whats what. Ordered a new otter switch which I expect will be here next week (or maybe lucky and it will come saturday in the post!) which I will fit as a precaution anyway.
Added to my list of summer stuff to do is the modwise upgraded fan controller and also the hot start kit. Discovered that at 110 Deg I suffered the hot start problem even though the fans had started working again I couldnt get her started to get that nice cool water back into the engine.
Added to my list of summer stuff to do is the modwise upgraded fan controller and also the hot start kit. Discovered that at 110 Deg I suffered the hot start problem even though the fans had started working again I couldnt get her started to get that nice cool water back into the engine.
bigdods said:
Job Done. Otter arrived this morning, 10 minutes to fit. Temp guage climbs to 82 fans cut in , drops back to 80, repeats. Perfect. Ran for 30 mins to be sure :-)
I think the old one had been on the way out for a bit, the temp used to fluctuate from 75 to 85 , but not any more !
I think the old one had been on the way out for a bit, the temp used to fluctuate from 75 to 85 , but not any more !
Nice one.
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