General The big freeeze

[daz666]

Hi, it's that time of year again !!! Why o why does my coupe not like this COLD weather? My locks freeze, my doors don't close, the car creaks like it's going to fall apart, washer jets-pipes freeze...Great fun ?

One question though, my coop ticks over and warms the engine up nice then I drive and the temp drops????I can't seem to get any heat into the car? For sure the cold air is cooling down the engine BUT my wife's car (astra) stays hot...Is this normal for this design of car???Is there anything I can do to retain the heat ? Thanks

 

[custard]

could be your thermostat is stuck open
the stat needs to open and close to maintain optimum temps

 

[daz666]

could be your thermostat is stuck open
the stat needs to open and close to maintain optimum temps

That's what I thought at first but that does not explain why the engine temp gauge goes cold when I drive and increases when I stop, or does it? Confused...

 

[custard]

That's what I thought at first but that does not explain why the engine temp gauge goes cold when I drive and increases when I stop, or does it? Confused...

yes it does
if its open when you drive the coolant is getting overcooled by the rad
when you stop it isnt regulating the coolant(eg opening fully as they dont usually stop fully open) so the coolant isnt flowing fully to the rad to cool

a lot of people think stats close till the engine heats up and then open and that it
but they need to compensate for the air temp and cooling effects

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Yeah I'd say it's probably your thermostat, it's very common for them to go. Mine was replaced six months ago, I have no problems with the temperature of the coolant now.

 

[ChrisUK]

Mine is stuck open also and gives the same symptoms your suffering. Job for when the snow's gone .

 

[daz666]

That clears that up, many thanks for your posts and I'll let you know how I get on.

Mine is stuck open also and gives the same symptoms your suffering. Job for when the snow's gone .

 

[johnboywood]

sounds defo like thermostat i had same prob last winter, changed it and all sorted, sits in between 90 and the lower notch weather in traffic or on the motor way, am fed up with my door locks freezin ive put some peno oil in them see if that works, anyone else know any good remedies, and not had the handbrake seize on yet butmy cables are less than a year old

 

[daz666]

sounds defo like thermostat i had same prob last winter, changed it and all sorted, sits in between 90 and the lower notch weather in traffic or on the motor way, am fed up with my door locks freezin ive put some peno oil in them see if that works, anyone else know any good remedies, and not had the handbrake seize on yet butmy cables are less than a year old

I have tried everything I can think of to stop them from freezing but with no joy, what I do now is (once the car is open) spray a little de-icer into the lock which does the trick in seconds. I'm not sure if this would cause problems with the locks over time but it works for now. As for the handbrake, mine has seized a couple of times, and again, the old de-icer has worked. After all, the amount of salt/grit that gets sprayed onto the cables, a little de-icer shouldn't hurt?

 

[spit]

The thermostostat is not too bad a job to do but make sure you get the right one........you need a blanking piece for one of them .
When you get it,offer it up and make sure it is right otherwise it's fun when you have removed yours and realise you need a blank.......like I did ,at night when there was nothing open
Glad my one has been put away for the winter..........they are pigs of cars in the winter.

 

[johnboywood]

daz i think you jinxed me i went out to the car thursday morning and the handbrake was froze on so now i leave it in gear

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Never had a problem with frozen handbrakes, fuel caps or otherwise with my 3 coops. Just been lucky maybe, however I live by the sea so perhaps the salty air keeps the frost at bay. Either way, I ain't complaining!

 

[johnboywood]

your lucky, ive never had a fuel cap freeze but i do know mine is only about 2 years old as the previous keep brought a new one, and left the spare in the boot, only had my cables freeze once but then door locks are beginning to do my nut in, ive never owned a coupe through out winter :bang:

 

[Ori]

Only owned a Coupe for about 2 days now and have already had the door locks freeze on me as well as the filler cap. I poured warm water on them and that worked. Sprayed a bit of WD40 and they haven't frozen again.....yet.
Some little git has put glue in my drivers side door lock which is another story all together. No idea how to deal with that. Tried some acetone, but no luck. Sigh.