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tubbyG
25-10-2012, 18:30
evening chaps...

I went for a little blast after work tonight out the back roads, and while booting it from 3rd to 4th I noticed the temp shoot up to near the 3/4 (10 o'clock) so as I slowed to pull in it crept slightly past it :-(

I had a look to see if my fan had become unplugged- was plugged in, and when I bridge the wires it came on.

I looked for any coolant leaks- none, but the top rad hose was solid, and header tank looked full, released the pressure and the level dropped. then bled the system.

Then let it cool down before starting again. When I did start it I bridged the fan wires so it was running constant but the temp was rising :scratch:
crawled home with the temp sitting at the 3/4 mark all the way, not dropping or rising.
I don't know whether my temp sensor in the head is fecked, fan switch is fecked, or I have an airleak in the system causing high temps.

Any thoughts?

jamie_clioGTT
25-10-2012, 18:38
sounds like an air lock to me, also check your alternator belt isn't slipping.

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 18:40
Should also add that I lost the bleed nipple from the top rad hose so I have bodged it with a small bolt. I used a spanner to nip it up so may have disturbed the seal :scratch:

juha5gtt
25-10-2012, 18:56
New poster! (less than 10 posts)

Can also be stucked thermostat or radiator etc. I got same kind issues last year keeping constant 3/4 temperature.
I checked all pipes and changed thermostat..well didnt worked until i change my 23 year old o.e radiator to new one.

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 19:00
Cheers, I never thought about the alt belt. :agree:

I have a free weekend so will do some proper investigating.

But I'm curious as to why the fan didn't come on with the temp so high, after bleeding it twice could there still be air in the water pump, right at the temp sensor?

R5MJH
25-10-2012, 19:06
hope it aint hg mate this also gives these symtoms

Tony Walker
25-10-2012, 19:11
the temp sensor doesnt tell the fan to operate. theres a temperature fan switch in the rad this switches the relay that operates the fan. if the rad isnt bled properely then the fan wont operate correctly, check the whole rad is getting hot while running and try to bleed the rad with the bleed screw that is the other side of the thermostat.

Nottswoody
25-10-2012, 19:12
Mine had an air lock for a while they can take a bitch to get out.. Drake the inter cooler off lift up the bottle high as you can undo your bleed screw and the water will flush the air out.. Simples.. When running do the spit test round the screw see if its air tight..

jamie_clioGTT
25-10-2012, 19:12
because your temp is taken from the head and water temp for fan ON is taken from elsewhere, so if water is not flowing properly to the head it will get hot but the water will stay cool so fan wont come on.

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 19:34
hope it aint hg mate this also gives these symtoms


Me too :sad2:


Shouldn't be though as I am running a bit rich @wot after turning the boost down. and also have a little retard in the ignition till I get it checked.

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 19:39
just been out and had it running, when loosening the rad top hose bleed bolt, the hose flexed and I could see a few bubbles and a very small bit of coolant coming from under the bit where the bleed nipple screws into so fingers crossed it will just be a case of sealing this up and bleading again

TNT ANDY
25-10-2012, 19:41
1st things first remove the fan switch in the radiator and check to see if this switches when dropped in boiling water.

2nd - remove both pipes to the expansion tank and flush it back and forth many many times until you get clear water coming out of both pipes in both directions, do this with the heater controls turned to hot.

Go from there.

R5MJH
25-10-2012, 19:49
if you rebleed as notts says check both hoses get hot then after it can only be fan switch or hg mate

Tony Walker
25-10-2012, 19:53
Dont presume headgasket, if the gasket was gone the system would be pressurising and the pipes would be pretty hard. The rad could be blocked, thermostat could be stuck, waterpump belt loose, waterpump goosed, rad fan switch, rad fan relay air lock, leaking rad so the switch isnt incontact with the coolant(doesnt matter how much you bleed the system, if the rad has a leak then its gonna drain out and not switch your fan on, even if the fan comes on itll be airlocked and wont cool)

GT Josh
25-10-2012, 19:59
Don't think it's your hg pal. Is the coolant system pressurising??

Didn't read Tony's comment lol sorry

R5MJH
25-10-2012, 20:18
Dont presume headgasket, if the gasket was gone the system would be pressurising and the pipes would be pretty hard. The rad could be blocked, thermostat could be stuck, waterpump belt loose, waterpump goosed, rad fan switch, rad fan relay air lock, leaking rad so the switch isnt incontact with the coolant(doesnt matter how much you bleed the system, if the rad has a leak then its gonna drain out and not switch your fan on, even if the fan comes on itll be airlocked and wont cool)

he did say the top hose was hard mate obviously yes it could be many things this is my option anywayz

youngscottie
25-10-2012, 20:18
Time to give your car a blow job
Remove the header tank cap and blow into it until its under pressure
Then open the bleeders one at a time till no air left
Only way I could get the air out of mine
Looks a bit strange but works a treat

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 20:53
when I first stopped it was initially pressurised, removed the lid to release some presure and was not pressurising again after that or for the 4 mile limp home. perhaps it was air getting into the system via the dodgy bit (where the nipple screws in) when I gave it some stick.

I was not losing any coolant, or seeing any mayo in rocker/ oil in coolant, or smoke from the exhaust.

I had flished the rad and all pipes when I built the engine in feb/march, always coolant - hopefully not corroded that much in 1600 miles use.

my header tank is in the scuttle panel and I usually just lift it as high as it can go then loosen the bleed screws, I hate giving it a blow!!!! It tastes horrible! :chuckup:

TNT ANDY
25-10-2012, 21:00
No need to blow in it - just raise it as high as it will go. We've got 1 bar of pressure pushing down on us at all times (dependant on the position of the moon and our altitude of course)

tubbyG
25-10-2012, 21:01
Im going to remove the top hose and try and repair the bit the nipple screws into to make a better seal, any tips on doing so?

with a bit of force, does it just pop out? I was thinking of just using a decent quantity of silicone and refitting

ALI 786
25-10-2012, 21:17
My money is on the Fan RELAY/WIRING as you have already confirmed the fan works when bridged...:agree:

Try fiddling about with the wiring / tapping the relay when TEMP is sitting HIGH, if fan comes on then you have found your fault....:smokin:

Can also check Fan switch itself by boiling in pan of water indoors to see if it opens... BUT my money is on the fan RELAY / wiring.... [Located next to headlight / alternator]

TNT ANDY
25-10-2012, 21:30
He's bridged the stat out. The fan ran. The relay is good.

Brigsy
25-10-2012, 22:52
Is the water pump circulating the coolant? Check its returning to the bottle? Thermostat stuck? Even if rad fan isnt working it should run cooler when driving.

This reminds me of when i partially blown a headgasket and the car would get hotter and hotter until it chucked coolant out of the header tank, cooling system was pressurising and fan wasnt working but there was nothing wrong with it.

jamie_clioGTT
26-10-2012, 06:54
mate.... i hate throwing negative waves around, i really do but, bleed your system up and go for a spin with NO boost. if the problem dosent arise it will be your headgasket :( same happened to mine. no symtoms other than pressurising under boost.

Flight666
26-10-2012, 07:07
The best method I have ever used on my 5 for bleeding the system is to use an old expansion cap drill a hole in the top that is a snug fit for the valve from a cycle inner tube,cut off the valve and super glue it in the hole.Fit cap onto expansion tank pump up with a hand pump till top hose feels hard then undoe each bleed screw in turn quick rush of air until the coolant squirts out,takes 30seconds to do and works a treat saves faffing around especially if you are on your own doing the job, and you know its bled properly..

tubbyG
26-10-2012, 07:34
Thanks for all the replies.... Except the ones mentioning the headgasket :laugh:

I do not have a thermostat fitted so that's ruled out. I will get stuck into it tomorrow and go through everything mentioned. I'm praying its just a slight leak on the top rad hose. if I can seal it properly and bleed again, hopefully it cures it!

Cheers

Brigsy
26-10-2012, 09:23
Id be tempted to do a sniff test on the coolant for exhaust gasses mate. Shouldnt be getting hot with no stat.

LiamR
26-10-2012, 12:01
The best method I have ever used on my 5 for bleeding the system is to use an old expansion cap drill a hole in the top that is a snug fit for the valve from a cycle inner tube,cut off the valve and super glue it in the hole.Fit cap onto expansion tank pump up with a hand pump till top hose feels hard then undoe each bleed screw in turn quick rush of air until the coolant squirts out,takes 30seconds to do and works a treat saves faffing around especially if you are on your own doing the job, and you know its bled properly..

Totally agree :agree:

GT Josh
26-10-2012, 12:22
Oh and just because you have good fuel doesn't mean your not getting any detonation.

tubbyG
26-10-2012, 13:24
Oh and just because you have good fuel doesn't mean your not getting any detonation.

I get ya bud, I understand there are a few factors which can result in det. hence using an adjustable tdc sensor at full retard to try and possibly eliminate one of these untill I get it checked.

GT Josh
26-10-2012, 14:03
Do what Brigsy said. Take it to a garage get them to do a sniff test and that will tell you for definite. Peace of mind! Plus you don't have to faff about snogging your expansion tank :laugh:

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 13:24
spent a few hours this morning trying to the to the bottom of this,

removed the top rad hose and repaired the bleed nipple housing, flushed the coolant system, refilled and bled twice.

Let it run to see what the temp was doing and re-bled again - temp was rising slowly, as normal. But as soon as it got to the 1/3 mark the temp rose quicker and past the fan cut in point. Checked the coolant hoses for heat and they were warm, but not as hot as I would expect nor were they solid.

So I removed the expansion tank lid and I could hear the pressure escaping but then the water level rose within the tank almost coming out the top before settling down again :cry:....... bugger!

So is this pretty much pointing to h/g failure?

R5MJH
27-10-2012, 13:40
spent a few hours this morning trying to the to the bottom of this,

removed the top rad hose and repaired the bleed nipple housing, flushed the coolant system, refilled and bled twice.

Let it run to see what the temp was doing and re-bled again - temp was rising slowly, as normal. But as soon as it got to the 1/3 mark the temp rose quicker and past the fan cut in point. Checked the coolant hoses for heat and they were warm, but not as hot as I would expect nor were they solid.

So I removed the expansion tank lid and I could hear the pressure escaping but then the water level rose within the tank almost coming out the top before settling down again :cry:....... bugger!

So is this pretty much pointing to h/g failure?

i said that at the beginning sounds like it is then boss

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 13:42
i said that at the beginning sounds like it is then boss


I know :scared:

a lot of comments were pointing in this direction....... I just didnt want to believe it:cry:

Nottswoody
27-10-2012, 13:48
nothing to worrie about bud it will cost around £100 at most to fix i was worried untill i did mine.. £25 for skim £35 for hg £11 for bolts and a few beers for someone to help you...

sorted.. up and running by wednesday:agree:

soapymech
27-10-2012, 13:51
I know :scared:

a lot of comments were pointing in this direction....... I just didnt want to believe it:cry:

I Was in the same position a couple of months ago,what confirmed it for me was a sniff test which went from blue to green within a second of starting the car.:eek:

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 13:53
hold on....Ive just went and removed the coolant pipe from the top of the turbo and started it up..... there was no water being pushed out the hose or the turbo unless I squeezed the top rad hose :scratch:

If the water pump was operating correctly I would have thought that coolant would have been pissing out??

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 13:56
nothing to worrie about bud it will cost around £100 at most to fix i was worried untill i did mine.. £25 for skim £35 for hg £11 for bolts and a few beers for someone to help you...

sorted.. up and running by wednesday:agree:


I know, a pretty easy fix... just annoyed as its not long back together :laugh:

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 13:57
I Was in the same position a couple of months ago,what confirmed it for me was a sniff test which went from blue to green within a second of starting the car.:eek:


I am too scared to drive it down to a garage to get this done :sad2:

Nottswoody
27-10-2012, 14:02
mate i drove mine for two months like it just keep an eye on the temps

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 14:09
mate i drove mine for two months like it just keep an eye on the temps

:laugh:

once it gets past the 1/3rd mark, the temp shoots up pretty rapid so dont want to risk further damage.

I am searching for the closest garage garage to me that can give it a sniff as we speak

Nottswoody
27-10-2012, 14:15
have you tried taking the alternator belt of and seeing if your waterpumps any good? mine just gave way one day. when i change my head i will always put a new one on just to save time later.. for £30 its not worth being sat at the side of the road like i did last time..:cry:

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 14:19
without taking it off, how would I know if the waterpump is any good or not?

Nottswoody
27-10-2012, 14:20
well mine failed at the seals at the wheel and was very loose im not saying that it will be that im just saying mine was a part of my hg problem..

soapymech
27-10-2012, 14:32
without taking it off, how would I know if the waterpump is any good or not?

With regards to the sniff test explain the prob maybe one of them will come out to you or even let you borrow it, or there's ones on the bay for 40 quid. I'm sure you can inspect the wheel inside the pump through one of the holes at the top, take the belt off and try moving the wheel side to side then spin it and listen for bearings.:)

Tony Walker
27-10-2012, 15:01
Sniff the coolant yourself does it smell of petrol? If you take the hose off the top of the pump then rev it a little should shoot water over your windscreen :-) carefull it'll be hot.

Jonny5
27-10-2012, 15:26
without taking it off, how would I know if the waterpump is any good or not?

A knackered water pump usually rumbles and sounds very noisy/rough when turning.May show other signs too.

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 16:33
Removed the top water pump hose (degassing pot one with the bleed screw) no water shoots out, unless I lift the header tank up high. Even then It just flows out rather than shoot out.
Removed alt belt and when spinning the water pump wheel it doesn't spin all that freely, there is no play but has a fair bit of resistance on it so stops it spinning pretty quickly

andybond
27-10-2012, 17:39
I would also get a stat installed.

tubbyG
27-10-2012, 18:00
new waterpump and stat ordered, I will hold off buying a hg untill I can rule everything else out.

Ive never had a stat fitted for the 3 years ive ran it, and had no issues

TNT ANDY
27-10-2012, 18:08
I would also get a stat installed.

:agree:

Tony Walker
27-10-2012, 18:12
Ive never had a stat fitted for the 3 years ive ran it, and had no issues

Bet you find winter driving a bit rough :D

Nottswoody
27-10-2012, 18:39
new waterpump and stat ordered, I will hold off buying a hg untill I can rule everything else out.

Ive never had a stat fitted for the 3 years ive ran it, and had no issues

Renault put one in there for a reason bud and I'd say youve had issues lol read above :) for £17 it's worth having one in.. Eliminate everything

Jimmy_GTT
27-10-2012, 21:47
I also have to check my cooling.
Today I've noticed that the fan only turns on for 10-15 seconds than off.
And start again in the next minute. But as I remember the temp switch in the
radiator has a 10 degrees range where it should be kept ON.
Could it be that the switch is not working correctly? Or the relay?

tubbyG
01-11-2012, 19:59
Right then, Update!!!..... I have just had a new waterpump, headgasket and head-bolts delivered so I can get this sorted on saturday :yeah: A few hours max I reckon!!

Just waiting on a thermostat to arrive now, then to get some fresh oil and we're away!!

I will be posting up pics of the headgasket for you guys to (hopefully) analyse :D

Nottswoody
01-11-2012, 20:12
:agree:

tubbyG
03-11-2012, 11:57
Just whipped off the water pump, and I have discovered the problem :D

the fins on the inner wheel have completely sheared off the shaft and broke into a few pieces resulting in no water circulation. Will upload a pic later

I am just putting on the new pump and will get it running to see how it fares. fingers crossed its solved - hopefully no need for h/g change :smokin:

Tony Walker
03-11-2012, 13:41
:agree: fingers crossed for you :-) atleast you have found the cause if the gasket has gone :)

Jonny5
03-11-2012, 15:41
Great news mate, easy fix :agree:

tubbyG
04-11-2012, 13:31
it seems I wasnt so lucky :sad2:

while running the engine to check temps the idle was pretty bad, it was very rich (10-11 afr) no mater how much I adjusted it and had the odd hesitation. Running temps were great though.

Im guessing that there was coolant getting into the cylinder/s causing a weak burn making it so rich.

so I have just removed the h/g but cant see any obvios signs of damage, but will get a pic up later. Just going to put in the new gasket, put it back together and see how it goes :(

tubbyG
11-11-2012, 16:51
sucess!!! I have changed the h/g, waterpump, head-bolts, oil & filter and the 5 runs again! sweet as a nut too!
here is a pic of the offending waterpump and the shiny new replacement :D

the wheel was completley detatched from the shaft and as you can see, part of the wheel was missing:sad2:....dont think it liked 7k rpm
http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac2/Phase2-tungy-gtt/DSC00033-1.jpg

Im no expert but was unable to see any obvious damage to the h/g, but its changed now and fixed so wont upload a pic just now.

ps....lowered the boost again to keep me safer!

Nottswoody
11-11-2012, 16:56
Good news bud but what boost was you runnin? Just one thing how old was te pump?

tubbyG
11-11-2012, 17:08
I have no idea on the age of the pump mate, was on the last engine when I bought the car (3 years ago). As it was running as it should I never felt the need to replace it - how wrong was I

I had the carb set to run 22psi on a T28, but I had lowred it to 20psi untill I had det monitored. Now its down to a rich 18psi

Tony Walker
11-11-2012, 19:25
Lambda sensor measures the oxygen content in the exhaust so a misfire would show as a very lean mixture because of the unburnt oxygen regardless of how much fuels dumped in. Glad its sorted for you though :)