Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M.Acorn on July 16, 2009, 04:38:55 pm
-
:( Vaux astra epic diesel turbo 1.7 1996 p reg vaux engine.
Leccy fan did not work all winter,did not have any overheating probs,got down the scrappy a couple of months ago and got new leccy fan,which didn`t work either !
So i ran another + from the battery and cut it into the + wire on the fan,put a switch on it,so i start van in morn,pop bonnet and turn rad fan on ( i know i didn`t have wire long enough,in the ampage for running it,or a spare relay.).
Trouble is it`s still getting right up close to the red on the temp gauge,it`s prob using a pint of water per 100 miles,checked under bonnet for any obvious leaks when it`s been hot and running.
Got no water in oil no oil in water,no mayo in rocker cover so don`t think it`s head gasket.
When i have had it running with the expansion cap off ,it does not look like the water is moving,so i am thinking it`s the water pump ? Or will it only move when pressurised ?
Can`t see where the water pump is ? Not driven off the belt that drives the alt,could it be driven by the cam belt ?
Typical that it waits till i am rushed off my feet
-
Have you looked at the thermostat?
If you take it out and dunk it into a pan of hot water you should see it opening.
If it doesnt open then its only a few quid for a new one plus gasket.
-
Thermostat is next on my list,the bell housing bit is covered in scale,had the bolts soaking in plus gas,going to give them a tap with the hammer and try and get them out,i suppose if it`s not opening it will stop water circulating.
-
You leave the radiator fan running all time engine is running??
John
-
Joe is correct or at least that would be what i would think is the problem
-
Yeah fan on constant from the moment i start the vam up,turn it off when parked up and stopped etc,it`s a fan from the same vehicle,but it stil gets too hot ! Have to have the heater blowing out red hot air too,so it does not boil over and cook the engine,not good in this weather !
-
Time to get a new van?!
-
There only a few quid and 10 mins work to replace the thermostat
Mark
-
when you get it sorted, put longer leads on your rad wires and have a switch in the van, save lifting bonnet all the time
-
If the actual temp gauge is showing too hot it probably is
overheating.
Need to get it to a garage and sort out the fan as it isn't
doing it's job properly.
Leaving it running all time will also be a drain on your battery.
John
-
Not sure why fan stopped working,i shorted out the temp switch,which should have made the fan come on,it`s a prob between fuse and feed to + on the fan,i did test it when it was hot enough to warrant the fan comin on ;)
There are so many fuses and relays under the bonnet,could be any 1 of them,don`t have a multi meter so can`t test
-
I expect its the GM engine in which case its pointing to the head gasket or even the head. If its been running hot for a while then the head will need skimming. The themocoupling switch for the fan is usually in the rad,its normally that is what gives up and not the fan Sorry but it looks like its going cost a few ££
-
Hi
A common problem with astras are heads
Steve
-
Got no mayo though ? no water in oil or oil in water,not down on performance either ?
If thats the case i will prob weigh it in
-
Got no mayo though ? no water in oil or oil in water,not down on performance either ?
If only things were so simple.
The cooling system is pressurized so it is possible for coolant to enter the chambers and be burnt off with the fuel. It's not always the case that the break will be between oil and coolant, so that the two mix.
It does sound the thermatstat is jammed closed because you're cooling one half of the system with the heater matrix in the cab. By any chance is the water in the main radiator staying below very high temperature?
-
s the water in the main radiator staying below very high temperature?
I felt the rad and you could be right,i could keep my hand yhere without it melting,need to investigate on Sat,3 jobs today ,all miles apart
-
The thermostat retains the water heated by the engine within the engine block. Your cab heater draws off that heat as well.
At this point the radiator will stay cold (there will be a very small amount of water designed to flow from the engine).
When the engine temperature becomes sufficiently hot (for it to be working efficiently) then the thermostat opens and you get full flow to the radiator as well.
You will notice on your temperature gauge when the thermostat opens the gauge drops slightly. This is because the cold water in the radiator is now in full flow and passing over the temperature gauge sensor.
This is another visible check for you to do without any mechanics. When you drive off this morning watch the temperature gauge - see if it drops slightly after a few miles, the point the thermostat is opening (if indeed it is opening).
-
bet you have done the head in very commen with these vans , i bet you the head gaket as gone between the water ways so its burning water rather then dumping it in the oil
-
Tried an experiment today,didn`t bother using the fan on the radiator,just saw if i could get by using just the heater + weather was in my favour ! 15 Mile trip to Cambridge,traffic was moving which is pretty uncommon ! For the A14..Managed to keep the temp well below what it had been.Then had to drive accross town to next job,via Wilco £15 for a flippin thermostat !
Will fit that tomorrow morning,before i go and do my job,will be crossing everything it`s not h/gasket,could do it myself at a push,but would rather not bother.
Don`t massivly tuned turbo engines have water injection into the bores to stop pre detonation ? Might have to get myself a big far Garret turbo off an audi tt.as i am half way there !
The local scrayy has loads of turbo diesels in,think this engine is pretty common.would only cost me £50 and my time.Not sure if the van is worth it though,need to do the rear arches before winter,as it`s looking a bit messy,not very professional looking really
-
yes your right about the big power units but if the water sleev as gone it will be over heating the head in one point and if your going to change the h.g. yourself rember to get it checked befour fitting a new one , as it may need skimming and not to forget the new head bolts >:(
but hoprfuly you wont have to do it at all
-
Ah right it has stretch bolts then ! Hoping it won`t get that far,it`s 1996 so it`s getting on a bit 126 thou miles,gets quite a bit of abuse from me.
Once i pay in my current batch of cheques i will be out of my overdraft ,for the first time since Jan,really want to avoid having to buy a new van,tax runs out end of this month too,need to start building up some savings before it goes dead again,trying to talk my wife out of going out to ibiza for the closing party`s,after my gig last week it`s got her dancing feet awake again !
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/DSC00314.jpg)
-
wow wheres that looks like a good party ?
-
It was Dance island in Ely ! And yes it was fantastic fun,not played out for a good few years (well not at a propper gig) Had a 10 thou capicity,but only think that there were 4.5.to 5 thou there,Pendulum headlining,radio 1 dj`s too,K90,lab 4 ,andy wardman,csally cage on the stage i was on,plus Roobarb from Norwich,all the top dj`s basically.got to rub shoulders with some of my heros !
Tickets were expensive £42 for normal or £67 for vip ! prob why it didn`t get rammosed.
One thing i did notice was everyone was using cd`s apart from us older guy`s who all use vinyl,got me back into it again and been trying to buy some vinyl,but it`s all flippin mp3 downloads now,all the good banging stuff i want to play anyway...Bloke who orgainsed it put his house on the line (either very brave or very stupid) not sure if he made enough to break even.
Another thing i noticed was the huge police presence,far too many,were supposed to be sniffer dogs too but they left them in the van and they died ! Not got the media coverage the other 2 got though.
Cambridge eve news were also saying that 10 thou people were there !
This was taken just after i went on (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/DSC00313.jpg)
This about half way through ;D (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/DSC00315.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/DSC00314.jpg)
Tools of the trade (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/delk/DSC00312.jpg)
-
Hi Mark,
First things first, you might have an air lock in the cooling system. Take the cap off the expansion/header tank. Turn the heaters to max heat and blower setting 1 or 2, Run the engine and squeeze the bottom and top hose until the coolant is getting low in the expansion tank, then refill with coolant and keep repeating until the level remains the same in the expansion tank. A simple air lock can halt the flow of coolant, this means the temp sensor that kicks in the cooling fan has static cool water on it (no flow), yet the engine block can be boiling away.
From what you have said the pump appears to be working as you can control the engine temp to some degree when travelling along. As said, change the thermostat as that could be seized shut and not allowing the coolant to circulate the radiator.
1/ Change your thermostat and drain off all your coolant.
2/ Get a hose pipe into the block and blast out all the crud, same with radiator.
3/ Turn your ignition to 1, but do not turn engine on!! Turn heater control to max heat and blower setting 1 or 2. This opens all the bypass valves for the heating. Fail this and you will have an air lock.
4/ Refill the cooling system by filling the expansion tank and squeezing the top and bottom hoses to circulate what you are putting in. When the level is maintained in the expansion tank and the hoses feel firm with liquid, start the engine until bubbling is seen in the tank, fill as required. This will expel any remaining air from the system.
5/ Replace the expansion tank cap and monitor temp and leaks. Make sure fan is kicking in no more than 3/4 on the temp scale.
Pete :)
-
Thanks Pete ;D Got 1 h/s/l this morn ,then rest of the day doing the van,now it`s stopped raining.Been ok the other day just using the heater to cool it,but it`s a bit warmer today , so will have to see how it goes this morn.
-
p reg it worth £2000k as a scrappage just punt it in and get a cheap citroen or such and be done, Honestly running a newer van is cheaper than running an old one.
-
Not a citroen though :(
Got around to changing the thermostat yesterday,put the old one in a pyrex jug with boiling water,and it didn`t open at all,so think i found the problem,just need to remember to put some anti freeze in now before winter.
Makes sense now,the rad fan was not having a cooling effect,but the heater was.
Just need rear brake shoes now,as they have started grinding,and have to fork out for the roc ,2 new tyres and koni`s being fitted,adverse camber has wrecked my tyres.
-
Don't forget, if you want the £2000 scrappage you've got to buy brand new.
John
-
Bit out of my price range to be honest,don`t beleive in credit,and that is the only way i could afford one >:( .
-
Mark you need to put antifreez in straight away its not only an antifreeze it is also anticorosion as well stops water way blocking up.
Cheers Tony
-
There we are then ! Coming home down the A14 last night,heater starts blowing steam and water through the vents,could`nt see out the windscreen !
Managed to limp home,was very hot though.Got a new matrix on order at 7.30 this morning,so taking out the old one and will bypass it until i get the new one,got a job booked at 2 tomorrow,so gotta get my finger out !
Typically i am flat out next week,so will have to hire one if i can`t get it sorted
-
There's nothing more draining than problems like this. I know what you are saying mark about building up reserves but if you get a newer van over 3-4 years you will easily cover it and without the grief. I did it and still wasn't sure but now a few months on I'm convinced it was a good move.
-
If only we where all RICH like Mike ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
-
If only Tony.
Anyway you're a fine one to talk moneybags Gill. ;D
-
Ha Ha yeah ! Just stripped it down ,got the old one out,it`s split along the seam,have bypassed it for now,so at least i can drive it ,jobs only a few miles away.Had it running,still seams fine,been reading on the vaux forums,it`s comon for them to run really hot,fan does not cut in till 100 deg !
Next flipping job is rear brake shoes,and just spent £190 on taxing it ! When will it end ! Payment on account looming too !