Water temp nearly into red.

1. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

   #1 16th March 2014, 17:52

   Drove the car into Oxford today, about 25 miles in the scorching heat.
   
   About 5 mins from the car park the temp started creeping up after waiting in traffic etc.
   
   Got into the car park and it was almost into the red.
   
   Couldn't hear the fan or anything, normally kicks in.
   
   Driving home no temp problems, sat half way, no fan.
   
   Any suggestions?
   
   Cheers
2. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #2 16th March 2014, 20:14

   Duff fan? Check there's enough coolant in it, bled up etc and there are no leaks
   
   
   Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
3. citroensaxo Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2012 Kent. Posts: 246 93 BX TXi 1.6 auto,47k 88 SAAB 900i f/lft,69k

   #3 16th March 2014, 20:42

   Dear Hazmanscoop,
   You may want to try checking all the fuses, incase one has blown.
   Also may want to check that you have a feed and an earth, to the wires on the radiator fan switch, if you have both a feed and an earth present, then it may need a new radiator fan switch. these are usually situated in the radiator.
   The cooling fan should cut-in at about 3/4 on the gauge and continue running well after the engine and the ignition have been turned off.
   I hope this helps.
4. wullvfr Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 killin,perthshire Posts: 1561 Audi a3 1.8sport,kawasaki zx9r c2,Yamaha R1 track

   #4 16th March 2014, 21:10

   Check fuse
   
   Apply 12v direct to the fan
   
   If the fan works check switch.
5. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

   #5 17th March 2014, 07:47

   Just drove to work this morning (25 miles, 50-60mph average speed)
   
   Temp didnt go over half way.
   
   Im assuming that this eliminates that the problem would be the coolant, and that its the fan that isnt working? or am i mistaken?
   
   cheers
6. aldred309uk Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D

   #6 17th March 2014, 10:14

   I would agree pal, sounds like the thermostat is regulating the temperature nicely when there air going through the radiator, but with no fan in slow traffic there's no air getting through.
   
   In the meantime, stop and start the engine at lights etc and if it starts creeping up, turn the interior fans on full and full heat, this will help to reduce the engine temperature, just open the Windows and point the vents out! Don't risk a head gasket!
7. Manu Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned

   #7 17th March 2014, 11:32

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Hazmanscoop Just drove to work this morning (25 miles, 50-60mph average speed) Temp didnt go over half way. Im assuming that this eliminates that the problem would be the coolant, and that its the fan that isnt working? or am i mistaken? cheers

   easy to find out about the coolant: warm the engine up and go up a hill, give it some welly. If the temperature shoots up towards the red then you have an air lock. As above for the fan, check the fuse, if not the fuse check the fan, if not the fan it's the switch.
8. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #8 17th March 2014, 11:49

   fan not working, although the cooling system itself should be enough to keep the car cool for a while without the fan coming on. Fix the fan, then check out the condition of the radiator. If its all good, a flush and some new coolant wouldnt go a miss depending on when its been done
9. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

   #9 17th March 2014, 13:05

   how easy is it to test the fan?
10. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #10 17th March 2014, 13:14

    easy - unplug it and then run a live feed and an earth into its plug
11. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #11 17th March 2014, 21:05

    Was fine again on the way home.
    
    Not sure if it was just a blip?
    
    Probs needs the coolant done anyway tbh
12. aldred309uk Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D

    #12 18th March 2014, 08:30

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Hazmanscoop Was fine again on the way home. Not sure if it was just a blip? Probs needs the coolant done anyway tbh

    If you haven't been in traffic then you can't say it's a blip, just stay stationary until the temp gauge creeps a few mm past normal temp, I bet the fan doesn't come on, get it sorted before the lack of fan kills your car pal!
13. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #13 18th March 2014, 09:29

    Yeah ill try it tonight when i get home and see what happens.
    
    I have been in traffic on the way to/from work but its been nowhere near as hot weather wise.
14. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #14 18th March 2014, 10:05

    How hot the weather is over here really shouldn't affecting it, cars are tested at 40/50 degrees C at various different loads, idling etc etc. The cooling system should cope unless you have an issue somewhere with it
15. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #15 18th March 2014, 10:24

    thats whats confusing me though.
    
    One off and it hasnt done it again? has me a bit confused.
16. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #16 18th March 2014, 21:18

    Is flushing and refilling the radiator etc a hard job?
    
    I've never done it before...
    
    I've looked at the sticky on here but the pics have gone
    
    I'm not wanting to be getting water everywhere or antifreeze all over my paint work or road.
    
    And the bleed points don't just piss water out do they?
17. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #17 18th March 2014, 21:24

    Try this guide. http://www.saxperience.com/forum/sho...eding+radiator
18. aldred309uk Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D

    #18 18th March 2014, 21:25

    They don't piss out, just a little spit at first, easy pal!
19. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #19 18th March 2014, 21:45

    Ok so when bleeding it doesn't go everywhere?
    
    Also the method on there says you need the heaters on, saxo don't run the fans unless the engines on. So do I switch the engine on to run the fans?
    
    Also how much water/coolant do I need and at what mix ratio?
    
    Can I tell which coolant from what colour it comes out of the car?
    
    What's best to collect all of the water that drains out of the car into?
    
    Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to ruin my car!!!
    
    Cheers
20. Pricklep Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5

    #20 18th March 2014, 22:05

    Nah very easy. All i do is open the back bleed nipple next to the inlet to bleed it and put the blowers on full chat on hot. Wait till they're HOT top up and as when, wait for the fan then nip it up
    
    Jobs a gooden.
21. jockyb Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Derby Posts: 150 Wicked Red Citroen Saxo 1.6 VTR 2003

    #21 18th March 2014, 22:29

    Just a thought,,, Do Saxo's have a thermostat in the cooling system?? ( only had mine 6 months so haven't checked it out yet, but I'm assuming they do) If so, perhaps the OP has a faulty thermostat that's sticking shut now and then ??
22. aldred309uk Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D

    #22 19th March 2014, 07:31

    From what I can tell the thermostat opens up the system to the radiator, that's why as the car warms up the coolant just circulates in the engine, then when the thermostat is triggered it opens up the system to the radiator and your temp dips as the cold coolant from that part of the system reaches the engine.
23. Hazmanscoop Established Member Joined: Oct 2008 Witney Posts: 2481 Black VTS

    #23 19th March 2014, 07:57

    Id assume all of that is working correctly as the car never really goes over or under half way when actually driving.
    
    Went into town last night and parking the car the temp started to rise a bit.
    
    I've checked the fuses for the fan (F2 and F4 in the engine fuse box) and they both seem fine.
    
    Im thinking its the radiator switch or the relay now. hopefully not the fan though... cant be arsed to change that.