General 1986 Panda 4x4 overheating!

[hambo44]

Hi,

My panda overheated because the fan had not kicked in. So I shorted it out, and the car runs fine like that. I suspected the thermostatic switch and replaced that. No luck. So I did my thermostat. No luck. I have flushed it through a couple of times. Still the car overheats, I am going to replace the water pump to see if that helps. Any other suggestions. Also there is no water in the oil or oil in the coolant, hence I do not suspect a head gasket to have gone.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[panda1408]

Is the fan now working as it should?

 

[hambo44]

The fan only works if it is shorted. This means it is running constantly, the car runs ok like that. If the fan is left on the thermostatic switch it does not cut in. The car is getting too hot without it turning on.

 

[panda1408]

You need to get the fan working properly with the switch as it sounds like that is the only issue, unless the car is overheating when you are driving, in which case there may be something else as the fan should not be needed when moving. Perhaps you have got a faulty replacement switch or maybe just a bad connection?

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

- Does it still run hot when you are driving it over 30mph/higher speeds?

- perhaps the temperature sensor is not reading correctly? Could try switching that out to check but sounds like this isn't likely as it sounds like maybe it was running badly when it overheated?

- Or air lock / blockage around the thermostatic switch so it is not getting in contact with the water?

- I assume that the thermostatic switch is getting a good power supply if you are able to short it out to turn on the fan.

All I can think of for the moment, sounds like you've checked the obvious things.

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

You need to get the fan working properly with the switch as it sounds like that is the only issue, unless the car is overheating when you are driving, in which case there may be something else as the fan should not be needed when moving. Perhaps you have got a faulty replacement switch or maybe just a bad connection?

Ah yes, good point! Electrical contacts on the plug that goes onto the thermostat switch could be corroded.

My faith in replacement parts has also gone as well.

 

[hambo44]

Hi,

I have tried two replacement thermostatic switches, both worked in a pan being heated in pan. So I may change the water pump, could this sort it? As to the airlock, I have made sure that there are none in the system. I can drive the car at speeds, it's just slow speeds going up hill when the fan is occasionally needed. I think that everything else is working fine I just can't get the thermostatic switch to go!

Thanks
Jonathan

 

[panda1408]

Sounds an odd one, if you leave the car idling does the fan come on or does it overheat?

 

[Liquid Knight]

No coolant loss?

When you say the engine runs perfectly is that with the fan on or off. I suspect it could be something daft like a retardation in the timing causing the temperature issue and fan failings.

Have you cleaned your hedgehogs lately?

 

[hambo44]

I haven't had any coolant loss at all. The car will run without the fan on, it just over heats at certain points (where the engine is working hard). At idle the fan does not come on (it never does) nor does the engine overheat.

 

[Dragon Man]

hmm.. my guess would be an air lock.. how good are your heaters? they work good or only work when the engine is revved up?
the way i fixed mine was to slip a pipe off the top of the heater matrix till all the air came out then fasten it back on. after that i had no more issues.. well...

talon does this same thing, remember back to when i posted about it just after Stanford Hall.
only does it when going up hills in the height of summer.

with mine i changed the electrics, radiator, water pump, multiple flushes, and even changed the heating matrix and it still does it.
had to change these things because the car was a restoration project.. they were all old/shot

so my guess is it still has air lock.

i dont have much faith in these auto bleeding systems :/

 

[hambo44]

Hi,

I will try to see if its an airlock tomorrow at some stage!

Thanks for the advice!
Jonathan