Lots of Steam

[barbon]

Got home from a run in the t350 loads of steam and water comming from engine bay, let it cool filled up swirlpot , not leaking out the bottom , what should i check next, engine starts ok should i risk a run keeping my eye on temp gauge. Please advise.

[KillerJim]

If your car isn`t fitted with the Sagaris fix/modification (i.e. there is an expansion tank that fills the swirlpot) then its probably just the car getting a little warm..

[Hambo]

Hi,

I had this on my 2005 T350 and turned out to be the radiator, was getting an error message on the dashboard, took to the garage and hooked up to their computer, which said all was OK. 2 weeks later lots more steam and a new radiator needed.

Have you noticed it running at a higher temp?


I got the alimimum replacement and have noticed the car runs cooler.


Good luck with it.


H.

[bartesque]

check the thermostat cheap n easy to replace but will stop the coolant entering the rad

part is about a fiver I think

[Zippee]

Hambo said:

I got the alimimum replacement and have noticed the car runs cooler.

What do you class as cooler? I've not long had an Ally rad fitted and on the road get 90-95 and anything up to 100 in traffic, though I may have a sensor issue as even at 100 I only have the 1 fan on.

[Targarama]

Do the fans come on?
What temp is it getting to on the gauge?
Have you filled up the coolant recently?
Have you had the car long/in the warm weather before?

[Targarama]

Zippee said:

Hambo said:

I got the alimimum replacement and have noticed the car runs cooler.

What do you class as cooler? I've not long had an Ally rad fitted and on the road get 90-95 and anything up to 100 in traffic, though I may have a sensor issue as even at 100 I only have the 1 fan on.

Could be the sensor, could be an airlock. air in the system. Does the temp vary a lot? such as 88-95-96-89-90-95 - if so I'd check for air first.

[darkmark07]

Mine did this, turned out to be a loose hose clip so don't panic - it might be a cheap fix...

Hope it's something straightforward!

Mark

[Zippee]

The only warm weather is the last 2 weeks or so for me. temp does seem to vary quite a lot, the fan on the drivers side comes on fine about 94 but with the guauge on 98-100 the other is still not on.
I think the airlock theory sounds quite plausible, shes going into Sebring next week to sort out my EFI fault so I'll get it bled then. I also got a 121 error today (albeit only once) which is a water sensor.
The other error I get often is 141 - brake fuid, and I also get the brake fluid warning light flicker on occasionally (stays for a couple of minutes before flickering then going away. Checked the fluid and thats at the correct level, presumable another possible dodgy sensor?

Think I'm finally starting to get used to the quality of sensors TVR used in these cars

[Targarama]

Zippee said:

The only warm weather is the last 2 weeks or so for me. temp does seem to vary quite a lot, the fan on the drivers side comes on fine about 94 but with the guauge on 98-100 the other is still not on.
I think the airlock theory sounds quite plausible, shes going into Sebring next week to sort out my EFI fault so I'll get it bled then. I also got a 121 error today (albeit only once) which is a water sensor.
The other error I get often is 141 - brake fuid, and I also get the brake fluid warning light flicker on occasionally (stays for a couple of minutes before flickering then going away. Checked the fluid and thats at the correct level, presumable another possible dodgy sensor?

Think I'm finally starting to get used to the quality of sensors TVR used in these cars

Well in 4.5 years of T350ing I only needed the speedo and oil pressure sensors replacing. Both with later parts which never failed again. Once you get these teething problems sorted I'm sure things will improve.

IIRC the first fan is around 93 deg and the second around 98 deg - maybe the second one isn't cutting in.

[Hambo]

What do you class as cooler? I've not long had an Ally rad fitted and on the road get 90-95 and anything up to 100 in traffic, though I may have a sensor issue as even at 100 I only have the 1 fan on.


Hi,

Compared to the original rad about 10 degrees cooler was 95ish in traffic now 85 and on mway or less.

H

[buckster]

Hey...

During my ownership, had to replace the temp sensor(s) twice. I had same issue as you, steam pouring from the engine bay. The TVR has x2 temp sensors, one to the pod display and the other to the ECU which triggers the fans. My problem was down to the ECU sensor being about 15 degrees out and started the fans too late :-(

Easy and cheap fix if this is the same problem as yours.

Cheers

[blackiepaul]

I have posted on the general TVR forum about getting a pump to fill the cooling system like Graham Varleys. Anyone know where to get one or what to search for? This should stop getting airlocks.

[NickT]

Was there water coming from the blue filler cap on the swirl pot? If so I had this once when one of my fans was seized and therefore the system was getting very hot in traffic (in VERY hot weather in France, much hotter than here at the moment!).

I also go the same just from the system getting hot going around the Nurburgring. I ended up having the extra expansion tank and new swirl pot fitted as on the Sagaris. No problems since. I've also now had an uprated full aluminium radiator as my radiator needed replacing anyway, this has helped further.