(T) Rad fan on constantly and temp gauge dead

Hi folks! I have a '61 Panda Mk 2, 1200cc, Petrol engine.
Last weekend the plastic hose pipe connector on the thermostat housing broke and the car lost it's water. I called out the AA, expecting to be relayed home. The AA man said this is a common problem and produced a brass version of the fitting! He fitted the new part and refilled and bled the cooling system. This meant I was able to drive home.
However, since completing the repair I have no reading on the temperature guage and the rad fan runs constantly while the engine is running. The fan stops after a while when the ignition is turned off.

Please will you Guru's tell me what I need to do to fix this?
Many thanks.

I suppose the first question to ask is, if you have air-conditioning, is it switched on? My 2010 Panda runs it's fan all the time when Aircon is on, switching of a wee while after turning the ignition off.

Non functional temp gauge, especially if the other displays are working normally, may that he disturbed the connecting wire at the sensor, either disconnecting it or damaging it.

I recently drained and refilled my cooling system whilst doing a water pump. For a couple of days afterwards I had to keep topping up the header tank as trapped air worked it's way out of the system. Trapped air can cause all sorts of "funny" symptoms. - Does your heater work? Not that you'll be using it in this weather but lack of heat output from the heater can indicate airlocks in the system. - Although unlikely, because your engine would probably be overheating by now if it had a big airlock, unless you are only doing very local short trips.

Do let us know how it turns out
Regards
Jock

Aye, I'm with Jock, a loose wire from the sensor sounds about right.

Hi Jock and Jimboy.
I had to drive over 100 miles to get home. I loosened the little bleed valve on the right of the engine a few times during the journey and only hot water came out, no air. I know the heating is working; I was worried that the fan was running because the engine was very hot so I was driving for a while with the heating on full, windows open, occupants sweating, (yesterday was very hot)!
The AA man thought that the sensor may have been cooked when the water escaped. Is that likely? I have to ask, might the AA chap have damaged the sensor while struggling to get the broken spigot out of the thermostat housing?

What can I do to test the sensor? Is there any point in shorting the connected wires to check for a change in the fan and guage? (like we used to do in the old days!)

Do you happen to know the part number for the sensor, so I can get one on line?

Jock,
I'll check the fan with AC turned off but that doesn't explain the temp guage.

The gauge and fans are connect. If the temperature is lower than expected it thinks there is a problem and fires up the fan.


I would suspect its something to do with the repair.


The temperature sensor is round the back of the engine with a green connector.

Make sure its not been disconnected and / or reseat the connector.


When it was bleed did they open both bleed screws. There's one towards the back of the engine righthand side. On top of a black pipe.


There is also one on top of the radiator left hand side.

I took off the air filter to try to get a better view of the thernostat housing and the sensor. I was wondering if the AA chap might have not pushed the plug fully home onto the sensor. When I pushed the plug it moved in a little! Great, I thought, this will be it! Made no difference! I pulled the plug off and had a good look at it. I noticed there is a locking tongue on the plug. I retracted this and put the plug back on to the sensor and then engaged the locking tongue. Turned the ignition on and the gauge moved up and the fan stayed off! Happy days!



Many thanks chaps, it was just a loose connection! You've saved me a visit to the car doctor. Have a great day!

Thank you KOALAR. I have now sorted the problem. I found the bleed valve toward the back.

I've just donated a fiver to the forum

Fiat wiring for youAlways something after a bit of fettling Glad you got it sorted.