RE: Today's case, are the doctors in?

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.com.pl>]

Michael wrote:

	>Changed oil & filter and took off. Running warm as above
	>W/FAN GOING ON MORE THAN USUAL WHILE DRIVING. Driving local
w/min
	>stop & go (30-40MPH).

	>Temp gauge starts going up, steam observed.
	>Stopped almost immediately when H2O temp warning displays.

	>Found coolant tank cap loose and no coolant in tank.
	>NOTE - FAN GOES ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE CAR WAS OFF.
	>Filled tank with coolant (proper mix) and took off. 

	>Temp OK but starts to rise slowly after several minutes of
driving
	>(30MPH w/ only one stop).
	>No steam this time but get temp warn display and needle
	>climbs to 2 clicks before H. FAN DOES NOT GO ON.

	>Drive home with ECONO heater on HI and max fan. 
	>Temp gauge does not go any further than 2 clicks from H, but
did
	>start to rise when heater turned off.  STILL NO FAN.

	>At home, no leaks, no steam, tank level full. FAN GOES ON 3X
W/ENGINE
	>OFF.
	>After 1 hour tank level dropped 1/4" assumed back to radiator.

	>Still no visible leaks on ground on hoses, etc., no coolant in
oil.

It's not OK to just add coolant to overheated engine when the coolant
level has dropped this low and immediately take off. The system should
be bled which requires adding coolant to the cold engine then idling it
with tank cap removed until thermostat opens. In your case air could
become trapped somewhere in the radiator preventing fan thermoswitch
from functioning properly. Faulty thermostat could cause it also, but
I'd recommend to perform correct filling/bleeding procedures and
checking if the problem reoccures first.

	>DIAGNOSIS? - 
	>Thermostat FUBAR while sitting for 2+weeks at garage?  I think
it's
	>stuck partially open, or can not open completely.
	>Any seconds?  If so, recommendations re: which thermostat to
get (174 or
	>187F).  I live on Long Island - OAT lowest 0, highest 100F.

	>RE: Where the H8$% is thermostat?
	>Pls correct if wrong, thermostat housing between plugs 1 & 2.
	>Has upper radiator hose attached (like the rest of the world).

	>H2O temp sensor/sending unit attached to housing pointing up.
	>Thermostat faces down with several wires running out; connects
to
	>housing with "big mother" brass nut?

No, the thermostat housing is where the _lower_ radiator hose is
attached.

Alex
-----------------------
Aleksander Mierzwa
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)