Hi everyone, having a small problem with my Saxo right now. When looking up the make of the model in the owners handbook it says it's a Saxo FIRST 1.1, if that helps.
Basically, I can turn on the engine and drive the car around, but after a while (not always, but quite a lot of the time) the temperature warning light comes on. Now it'll normally stay on for about 5-10 seconds, then turn off again for a few minutes. Then it comes on again, then turns off, etc etc. Sometimes it can stay on for a couple of minutes, but never any longer than that.
From my research on the internet, I learned this was probably a radiator issue. So I opened the radiator cap and checked the coolant- it's filled right up to the brim, so no problems there.
I was then informed it was probably to do with the thermostat, and to check whether this was the case, to put the handbrake on the car, turn the engine on, and leave it running for a few minutes, making sure to remove the cap on the coolant reservoir first. Then, having made the car run for a few minutes, to check whether the coolant level is decreasing or not (as if it was not decreasing that would indicate a problem with the thermostat, as the coolant clearly wasn't able to get to the radiator).
So I ran this test for about 5-6 minutes, and revved the car engine a bit to get it hotter (not much, just about up to the 2500 revs per minute mark, as I thought this would simulate actual driving quite well). Then I checked on the coolant level.
What I found was the level had decreased, but only by about an inch or so. Is that a normal level of decrease for what amounts to about a 6 minute 'drive', or would it be expected that the level would decrease a lot more than that? Just trying to figure out if I've got a thermostat problem or if it's something else.
Furthermore when I switch the engine off, sometimes the fan starts up, without me doing anything. I often have to keep turning the car on and off until finally the fan doesn't come on anymore. What could be causing this problem? The fan is quite load. Is it all related to the car overheating?
Just thought I'd ask first as I know nothing technical about cars and would undoubtably get ripped off at a garage because of it.
Basically, I can turn on the engine and drive the car around, but after a while (not always, but quite a lot of the time) the temperature warning light comes on. Now it'll normally stay on for about 5-10 seconds, then turn off again for a few minutes. Then it comes on again, then turns off, etc etc. Sometimes it can stay on for a couple of minutes, but never any longer than that.
From my research on the internet, I learned this was probably a radiator issue. So I opened the radiator cap and checked the coolant- it's filled right up to the brim, so no problems there.
I was then informed it was probably to do with the thermostat, and to check whether this was the case, to put the handbrake on the car, turn the engine on, and leave it running for a few minutes, making sure to remove the cap on the coolant reservoir first. Then, having made the car run for a few minutes, to check whether the coolant level is decreasing or not (as if it was not decreasing that would indicate a problem with the thermostat, as the coolant clearly wasn't able to get to the radiator).
So I ran this test for about 5-6 minutes, and revved the car engine a bit to get it hotter (not much, just about up to the 2500 revs per minute mark, as I thought this would simulate actual driving quite well). Then I checked on the coolant level.
What I found was the level had decreased, but only by about an inch or so. Is that a normal level of decrease for what amounts to about a 6 minute 'drive', or would it be expected that the level would decrease a lot more than that? Just trying to figure out if I've got a thermostat problem or if it's something else.
Furthermore when I switch the engine off, sometimes the fan starts up, without me doing anything. I often have to keep turning the car on and off until finally the fan doesn't come on anymore. What could be causing this problem? The fan is quite load. Is it all related to the car overheating?
Just thought I'd ask first as I know nothing technical about cars and would undoubtably get ripped off at a garage because of it.
