T350 Overheating !! HELP

[JonT350c]

Hi guys,

Well apparently it was bound to happen but after 6 months of trouble free motoring my first mandotory stop ! Second drive of the day and 25 minutes in and i noticed the water temp rising to 98 which does not normally happen. Hot day and sitting in traffic so not really worried. Then steam out of the front right of the bonnet and a sudden rise of temp to 105.Pulled over and as my luck was is Birmingham city centre at rush hour with lots of eyes on us. Fans did not kick in as expected and have not since (problem ?) so waited for it to cool and traffic to die down so some open space to get air flow. 1 mile later had to stop as temp back up and now waited until we could take the water cap off which was the initial source of the steam. When we took the cap off following bubbling/boiling noices the bottle was full !! Checked the pipes for splits and 1 minute later the bottle was empty. Not sure if it was to do with the pressure of opening the cap while hot or a blockage removed while moving the pipes but filled it up anyway. Nursed the car home 4 miles (temp below 100) and waited for it to cool before rechecking bottle which is now empty again.

Not sure what this means please don't say a gasket or something horrible !!

Thanks guys for your help

jon

[grumbledoak]

Don't panic yet; from reading here they do tend to eat radiators. Not cheap, but not rebuild money either. What did the oil temperature show?

Neither fan coming on seems odd; maybe the temperature sensor is buggered?

[JonT350c]

Oil temp was normal around 70-80 degrees. Was stange about the fans but since i have had it i have not needed them so not sure if they had ever worked !!

[tail slide]

I had similar when a water temp sensor failed, which failed to bring the fans on at the normal 90-92 degrees. But can have same result if it was low on water.

Opening the cap while still hot - under pressure - normally causes localised boiling around the head ie. air forming in various places. This is why the level came up, and then down when it was run some more. But it will now have air trapped in various places around the system (there are bleed valves each side of the radiator)

So suggest first step is getting connections to sensor and sensor itself checked or replaced (not expensive)-- or doing it yourself which is possible without draining the system, if you're happy with the little job of removing the airbox to get to it.

Also had similar symptoms when a head gasket went on my modified 4-litre, but the sensor/leaks/low water level is much more likely

Edited by tail slide on Friday 24th April 20:59

[JonT350c]

Thanks tail slide that makes me feel a little better. Will check them and keep my fingers crossed.

jon

[Wroomster]

Hi, i had a similar experience, long drive back from bristol to London, when in traffic in london the water temp was showing 102 degrees, no steam or anything, so pulled over and called AA. They water/coolant level was low, so it was topped up and has been fine ever since. If the head gaskets is warped (due to massive over heating, then some of the water will be getting into the cylinder which should be indicated by higher oil pressures and steam/vapour in the exhaust - not a mechanic just what I had been told.)

[KillerJim]

Part of every TVR owners weekly check should include coolant levels, and opening the bleed screws every month or so..

[G20RG B]

I had similar issue,
Turned out I hadn't tightened the cap sufficiently after I had filled up with coolant. I had also over filled the expansion tank with coolant, so when the car increased in temperature I stopped turned of the engine and the cooling made a burbling noise and it all spewed out of the expansion tank cap.

It Is very important to make sure the expansion tank cap is on TIGHT.

[extremekiter]

Yep, exactly same prob i has with my T350c. Exactly!!!!

And it was radiator in the end. Scole TVR replaced it and prob fixed!! Dont panic.....

Justyn

[K100]

I had a problem with fans not working. Thought of all the usual horrors but being a simple sole I checked the fuses.

Both blown - due to water in the connector blocks probably from when I cleaned the car earlier in the day.

H

[TVR nut]

I just bought a t350, back from holidays today and took her out for a blast in the sun
What is the usual water temp? i thought mine was a bit high at one point in town but was a very hot day.
Still can't stop smiling only the second time i've had her out

[grumbledoak]

TVR nut said:

What is the usual water temp? i thought mine was a bit high at one point in town but was a very hot day.

The two fans should come on seperately at 92°C and 96°C, keeping her around 90°C and never over 100°C. It will be more in the summer, or when not moving. The oil temperature should be less than the water temperature. The readings aren't absolutely accurate, though.