General And she over heats again, and the weather's to get hotter!

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Hi all. Had problems with the Selecta slightly over heating. Not majorly, always spotted it. But tracked the fan not working down to a defective fuse.

I've now changed the fuse and it works fine, you ought to have seen the state of the old one, I think it was an origional, all melted and stuff.

Well, the point of the thread is to see if I should change the coolant. I don't know when it was last done because I've never done it and only had the Selecta since Aug last year.

I've check the level and put it into a tester thing to tell me what temperature protection it gives and its about -15c, but should I still change it? Will changing it also help give a lower cooling temp on the guage when running?

Also how hard is it with the Injection FIRE engines? Just that there's coolant pipes (even little ones to the throttle housing) and was wondering how easy it is to bleed the system whenthe coolant has been changed.

Thanks. Jon.

 

[JimMagill]

it's really easy! Even I can do it, hehe!

Pull the cap of the rad, pull the pipes off the rad too, run a hose thou the rad and then put it all back together, refill and then bleed from the bleed screws that are in the pipes that run up to the heater and on the rad.

Thats the simple verison, think you may have to put some thought into it but it is dead easy, honest!

Might not make much of a difference but it will make you and your panda feel better

Jim

 

[Alan.D]

I would change coolant every 2 yrs without fail, as well as the coolant side it also includes inhibitors to stop the innards of the cooling system roting away.

Don't let good colour fool you into thinking the coolant is OK, one of my BM's had an immaculate cooling system and it looked like the whole system was brand new but on checking it offered no protection what-so-ever

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

BUMP

I've found two 5L bottles new unused expensive coolant from Halfrauds that I remember buying last year, and so have now decided to do full coolant changes and flushes on both of the Selecta's.

So am I right so far in removing rad cap, and lower pipe to drain the system. Then remove top rad pipe and shove a hose pipe in a turn it on full. thanks to Jim for this bit

Now this is where I become stuck

Do I leave the rad being flushed until the water comes out clean/clear?

Do I then shove it in the pipe to clean the engine block and heater matrix out? Will the thermostat stop this from happening because the engine will be cold, resulting in it being shut?

And another thing, the coolant system on the Selecta seems very complex compaired to the other Panda's, because it's injection there seems to be load's of little pipes to the throttle houseing (is that what it's called? the carb thing under air filter box). Will all these be blead out properly when I bleed the system?

OMG, I'm so making a mountain out of a mole hill .

Any help welcome.

 

[Alan.D]

OMG, I'm so making a mountain out of a mole hill .

Yes
Make sure the air temp setting on the dash is full hot. You should then flush till it's clear, you can try to flush the block itself but as said the thermostat being closed wont help but once flushed you should reconnect all the pipes fill with just water and run till the fan comes on and shut off the engine. When cool drain and flush again then fill with the coolant mix.

Don't worry about the small pipes the coolant will keep them clear as well as being good for the whole system

Don't forget to keep air temp setting on the dash to hot so the matrix is flushed as well, you will also need to keep it left on hot when re filling

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Yes
Make sure the air temp setting on the dash is full hot. You should then flush till it's clear, you can try to flush the block itself but as said the thermostat being closed wont help but once flushed you should reconnect all the pipes fill with just water and run till the fan comes on and shut off the engine. When cool drain and flush again then fill with the coolant mix.

Don't worry about the small pipes the coolant will keep them clear as well as being good for the whole system

Don't forget to keep air temp setting on the dash to hot so the matrix is flushed as well, you will also need to keep it left on hot when re filling

Many thanks Alan, forgot to mention about the heater on hot thing. I had been told once, and atleast you confirmed what I was thinking about doing with the normal water to rinse the system.

Thanks again

 

[Alan.D]

That's OK...

 

[selecta man]

Noticed there isent an overflow pipe on the plastic thing where you put the water in. [selecta]. Most cars have one dont they ?

 

[petel]

Some do some don't. In our case --- don't, the releif valve is in the header tank filler cap.
Rgds.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Some do some don't. In our case --- don't, the releif valve is in the header tank filler cap.
Rgds.

:yeahthat: but it shouldn't affect me at all should it?

 

[petel]

No Jon, this will not affect any of yours, or any other Panda for that matter.
Rgds.

 

[selecta man]

Some do some don't. In our case --- don't, the releif valve is in the header tank filler cap.
Rgds.

Thanks, can sorta see how it might work. Anyway what is that red thing that turns, about a third of the way up the plastic header tank. Turned mine and nothing happened. Also got a spare in the garage, and after giving it a close inspection, expecting it to be a drain thing, i am still none the wiser. Theres no hole anywhere. [1993 selecta]

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Thanks, can sorta see how it might work. Anyway what is that red thing that turns, about a third of the way up the plastic header tank. Turned mine and nothing happened. Also got a spare in the garage, and after giving it a close inspection, expecting it to be a drain thing, i am still none the wiser. Theres no hole anywhere. [1993 selecta]

, I'll have a look in our Panda's. Jon.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Thanks, can sorta see how it might work. Anyway what is that red thing that turns, about a third of the way up the plastic header tank. Turned mine and nothing happened. Also got a spare in the garage, and after giving it a close inspection, expecting it to be a drain thing, i am still none the wiser. Theres no hole anywhere. [1993 selecta]

Just replaced the rad in mine and the new one has that. The old rad had a clear header so you could see the max/min marks but the new one is solid black so the red plug appears to be a level indicator (like topping up the gearbox oil.) Twist and pull, if nothing comes out it needs topping up.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Surly it would be better to remove the lid on the top then? That's what I do anyways (when cold ofcourse).

Jon.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

You'd think wouldn't you. I guess black plastic must be cheaper than transparent though and it makes it nigh on impossible to tell where the coolant level actually is.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

You'd think wouldn't you. I guess black plastic must be cheaper than transparent though and it makes it nigh on impossible to tell where the coolant level actually is.

Sounds just about right, lol.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

One last question before changing the coolant (not done it yet), how much will come out? Obviously I don't want it going down the drain. Will it poor into a kitchen sink bowl?

Many thanks all

Jon.

 

[Alan.D]

5.2 litres will come out if completely emptied.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

5.2 litres will come out if completely emptied.

whats the best way to catch it all then? I don't really want it going down drains

The plan was to catch it in a washing up bowl (not THE washing up bowl, lol) and then put it into a 10L container I have to then take down the dump with the waste oil I've got sitting in bottles in the garden.

Ta