Technical Radiator fan comes on easily

EJ192 · Jan 22, 2015

Noticed that the radiator fan on my car comes on quite often now. We've just had snow and after a 10 minute drive, it came on whilst I was parking. Freezing temps and it acts as though it's 30C outside.

The coolant level is about 2 inches below the minimum mark (has been for a while and I know I should top it up) and the heater in my car takes a while to heat up. Don't know if everything relates.

Any idea what could be the issue?

jrkitching · Jan 22, 2015

EJ192 said:
Noticed that the radiator fan on my car comes on quite often now. We've just had snow and after a 10 minute drive, it came on whilst I was parking. Freezing temps and it acts as though it's 30C outside.

The coolant level is about 2 inches below the minimum mark (has been for a while and I know I should top it up) and the heater in my car takes a while to heat up. Don't know if everything relates.

Any idea what could be the issue?

Low coolant; this is causing your engine to overheat.

The minimum mark is called the minimum mark for a reason - it's the minimum amount of coolant that must be present in the system before the engine can be safely run.

Top it up to at least the minimum level with the correct specification of coolant before starting the engine again. Running with the coolant level below the minimum mark risks serious, permanent, engine damage which could be extremely expensive to repair.

Also, if the coolant level has fallen below the minimum, it is possible you have a leak somewhere, and this should also be checked as soon as you can.

zanes · Jan 22, 2015

Do you have the air conditioning switched on?

EJ192 · Jan 22, 2015

jrkitching said:
Low coolant; this is causing your engine to overheat.

The minimum mark is called the minimum mark for a reason - it's the minimum amount of coolant that must be present in the system before the engine can be safely run.

Top it up to at least the minimum level with the correct specification of coolant before starting the engine again. Running with the coolant level below the minimum mark risks serious, permanent, engine damage which could be extremely expensive to repair.

Also, if the coolant level has fallen below the minimum, it is possible you have a leak somewhere, and this should also be checked as soon as you can.

Thought so.

It's recently been in for full service and MOT. I told garage about the coolant but a few things failed and this was overlooked. Going to take it back today.

EDIT: No air con not on.

EJ192 · Jan 23, 2015

Got car back and it seems better with coolant topped up. Mechanic did find a slight leak on the radiator. I know the leak is very slight as I've kept an eye on the coolant level for over a year and I've noticed no change.

I've been quoted around £150 to fit a new one. Does this sound reasonable?

306maxi · Jan 23, 2015

Sounds more reasonable that hundreds or thousands more for a replacement engine.

frupi · Jan 23, 2015

306maxi said:
Sounds more reasonable that hundreds or thousands more for a replacement engine.

Are you being deliberately facetious?

Agreed, much better than a ruined engine. Actually, £150 for a garage to supply and fit the thing is pretty reasonable in some places, you get some sort of guarantee with the work and the part itself should anything go wrong. Personally, I've always thrown caution to the wind on radiators having replaced one on a Volvo 440 many moons ago and two on my old Primera. Easy enough job if you're a competent mechanic.

306maxi · Jan 23, 2015

Oh god, me, facetious? God no!

frupi · Jan 23, 2015

306maxi said:
Oh god, me, facetious? God no!

Careful, or you could be on the cusp of being banned.........

jrkitching · Jan 23, 2015

EJ192 said:
Got car back and it seems better with coolant topped up. Mechanic did find a slight leak on the radiator. I know the leak is very slight as I've kept an eye on the coolant level for over a year and I've noticed no change.

I've been quoted around £150 to fit a new one. Does this sound reasonable?

It's a reasonable price; certainly less than you'd likely pay if you took it to a Fiat dealership. You probably won't get a genuine Fiat radiator fitted for this money, but a decent aftermarket radiator is around £50-£60 and by the time you've added on labour charges and the cost of new coolant, I'd say £150 is fair enough.

Small leaks can sometimes turn into big leaks surprisingly quickly & engines are easily damaged if run with low coolant. There is a valid message behind the sarcasm of the last few posts - if I were you, I'd be prioritising getting this fixed before something bad happens.

EJ192 · Jan 24, 2015

306maxi said:
Sounds more reasonable that hundreds or thousands more for a replacement engine.

Really?!

Thank you jrkitching I’m going to get the car booked in, again (!), hopefully next week.

typecastboy · Jan 24, 2015

Do it yourself, it's easy. I've just done it and replaced the front slam panel too. It's really easy. I'm no mechanic trust me, and with hints and tips from many on here, I successfully did it.

jrkitching · Jan 24, 2015

typecastboy said:
Do it yourself, it's easy... ...It's really easy.

That's not what you were saying when you couldn't get the stub pipe off the old one

.

typecastboy · Jan 24, 2015

jrkitching said:
That's not what you were saying when you couldn't get the stub pipe off the old one .

Ha ha, no that's very true. But I know how to do it now, and my pearls of wisdom can save him £150.

Damn thing still gives me nightmares!!

EJ192 · Jan 24, 2015

typecastboy said:
But I know how to do it now, and my pearls of wisdom can save him £150.

Problem is I'm a twenty-something lady.

No chance of doing it myself, not got the confidence.

Looked at the coolant level again and it's gone back down below the minimum mark again! Not as low as last time, fan still hasn't been on but extremely concerning. Can't do anything until Monday now.

frupi · Jan 24, 2015

EJ192 said:
Problem is I'm a twenty-something lady. No chance of doing it myself, not got the confidence.

Looked at the coolant level again and it's gone back down below the minimum mark again! Not as low as last time, fan still hasn't been on but extremely concerning. Can't do anything until Monday now.

I'm sure you have it covered, but make sure you find a reputable garage with plenty of good reviews if you don't already know or use a trusted garage.

http://www.goodgaragescheme.com/

typecastboy · Jan 25, 2015

EJ192 said:
Problem is I'm a twenty-something lady. No chance of doing it myself, not got the confidence.

Looked at the coolant level again and it's gone back down below the minimum mark again! Not as low as last time, fan still hasn't been on but extremely concerning. Can't do anything until Monday now.

The feminists out there will be so angry.

Don't you have a knight in shining armour that can help you?

EJ192 · Jan 25, 2015

typecastboy said:
Don't you have a knight in shining armour that can help you?

Unfortunately not, hens why I've come on here.

I'm losing coolant up to a certain point. This is making me think I have a crack or hole in the expansion tank. I know the expansion tank and radiator are all one part but I'm confused why the garage would say the radiator is leaking. Surely if it was that, the level will continue going down?

I'm probably wrong with that theory.

Attached photo of the level last night. You can just about see the level next to the tab.

EDIT: Also forgot to mention that I often hear a gushing noise and the heater is taking longer than it should to heat up.

typecastboy · Jan 25, 2015

You probably have air in the system then. I had a gushing noise and cold air coming out of the heater when I first changed my radiator. It could be that the level is going down as the air is being expelled, so possibly not a leak at all.

Take the expansion tank cap off and run the engine (don't drive the car though). Let it warm up and keep looking in the tank at the water level, you will probably see bubbles where the air is making its way through the system.

Once it's bubbling nicely, give it a little bit of revs. Not too much though as you have no pressure in the cooling system with the cap off. You will probably hear the water gushing noise and then the heater will fire into life. It will help to push the air out. Once there is no longer any bubbles put the cap back on, let the water cool down and then top it up with anti-freeze and see what happens with the level.

Make sure you don't cross the thread on the expansion tank cap though, easily done.

Officina red · Jan 25, 2015

typecastboy said:
You probably have air in the system then. I had a gushing noise and cold air coming out of the heater when I first changed my radiator. It could be that the level is going down as the air is being expelled, so possibly not a leak at all.

Take the expansion tank cap off and run the engine (don't drive the car though). Let it warm up and keep looking in the tank at the water level, you will probably see bubbles where the air is making its way through the system.

Once it's bubbling nicely, give it a little bit of revs. Not too much though as you have no pressure in the cooling system with the cap off. You will probably hear the water gushing noise and then the heater will fire into life. It will help to push the air out. Once there is no longer any bubbles put the cap back on, let the water cool down and then top it up with anti-freeze and see what happens with the level.

Make sure you don't cross the thread on the expansion tank cap though, easily done.

Or take it to the garage

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