Hi again guys. Today the Cinq started to act funny. The problem was solved for about 3 weeks but no its starting all over again. The fan stays on for only 5 seconds and comes back in after 30 seconds, its skipping the 90 temperature zone with no fan running and when the engine is hot I turn the ignition when its off the temperature rises more and then falls back down. Can anyone please tell me whats doing on? You are the experts... It could be the cylinder head which is going...? The coolant was flushed, the coolant is bleeded well, thermostat change about 2 months ago and its original and when warm there is no smoke coming out from the silencer. The smoke comes out when started in the morning or when I restart it in the evening. Another thing which I noticed is that when the engine is hot and I start it, I hear a ticking noise which lasts for 10 seconds and then goes.

Most help is appreciated.

Have you checked the water level today?

Cheers

SPD

Yes I did, its like between the max and min but more to the max side. It has been like that the past 3 weeks.

mmm, so water is not disappearing. Remove the plug on the radiator for the fan switch. Short it out with a paperclip, switch on the ignition an check the paperclip is not glowing.

Also check the engine earth is intact, clean it up if in doubt.

Cheers

SPD

so what i do is, take out the plug which is connected to the fan switch right and connect it with a paperclip and switch on the ignition. now the paperclip has two ends and these two have to touch the fan switch poles. is that right? now the earth of the fan is where please as there are are 5 earths? One of the battery, two of the head lamps, of the ECU and one which is near the gearbox.

thanks.

davscer said:

so what i do is, take out the plug which is connected to the fan switch right and connect it with a paperclip and switch on the ignition. now the paperclip has two ends and these two have to touch the fan switch poles. is that right?

Click to expand...

Open up the paperclip until you have it 'u' shaped. Push one end into each side of the connector

davscer said:

now the earth of the fan is where please?

thanks.

Click to expand...

Engine earth, from gear selector to inner wing.

Cheers

SPD

Going to try the paperclip method now.

One thing I forgot to ask, for how long do I keep the ignition on?

thanks.

I could not find the jack to do it. Can you please give me both scenaro's if the paper clip glows and if it does not glow so that I will know whats the problem so that tomorrow I will be able to fix it?

cheers and thanks rallycinq.

Emm, any ideas please?

Thanks.

davscer said:

One thing I forgot to ask, for how long do I keep the ignition on?

thanks.

Click to expand...

It should glow within seconds.

The fan should run.

Keep it on for a couple of minutes and make sure the fan keeps running.

Cheers

SPD

davscer said:

I could not find the jack to do it. Can you please give me both scenaro's if the paper clip glows and if it does not glow so that I will know whats the problem so that tomorrow I will be able to fix it?

cheers and thanks rallycinq.

Click to expand...

I don't understand why you need a jack, get at it from the top.

If the paperclip glows, then the motor bearings are packing up, and although its turning, its not turning fast enough to cool.

Therefore, if the paperclip doesn't glow, then the motor is working properly, and its then either an earth problem, or a switch problem.

Cheers

SPD

davscer said:

Emm, any ideas please?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Sorry, went to bed, only just got back on line, I have to work sometimes too.

Cheers

SPD

Sorry for the late reply rallycinq. i am totally lost of what you just said. how i can short the fan switch with the paper clip and make the fan running running?
sorry but i am a bit simple when it comes to cars... will try and just short the fan switch connector with the paperclip soon when it stops raining heavily non-stop as in Malta the amount of rain which is falling is increadible...

many thanks and sorry for the "i am lost part"

You are going to take the connector off the switch in the radiator, not the connector to the fan.

This is the screw in thermo switch that senses the heat in the radiator and switches the fan on.

By shorting this out with the paperclip, the fan will come on as soon as you switch on the ignition.

All you are looking for is to make sure that the fan runs smoothly without drawing large amounts of current. If the paperclip smokes and glows the motor is drawing too much current, but more importantly its not turning fast enough to cool properly.

Cheers

SPD

Ah ok ok. I got you. Well I have noticed that when I turn the fan with my finger it stops immediately while my mothers car which is a VW when I spinning the fan with my finger it kept on turn for 8 seconds while mine stopped turning after 2 seconds. I think I need to grease or spray the fan motor with some DW-40. I think that why it stops working after 5 seconds as taking to much current and lately the fuse of the radiator fan has blown for me!

Thanks rally cinq. Will short the fan and will try it out.

Bad news, the bearings in the fan are sealed, so no amount of WD40 will loosen it. Change the fan motor before you have a more serious problem.

Cheers

SPD

If the fuse blows you are stress testing the wiring loom, you may damage the insulation of the fan wiring and need new loom.

If the fuse blows it may be more than the bearings have a problem, the windings may have short circuits...

If the engine overheats one too many times the head gasket may need replacing and the head may warp and need a grind or other salvage.

My fan spends a lot of time on in traffic...

Noel

only one fuse has been blown. the needle never went to the red bit so I do not premuse that it overheated.

You've probably caught it in time.

Cheers

SPD