thermostat

[jackie winstanley]

my brava 1.4 sx overheated and cut out. Thinking this could be a thermostat problem cos water levels and oil were ok I removed the thermostat housing only to discover NO THERMOSTAT! Would no thermostat cause it to overheat? any help would be very grateful

 

[Anonymous]

Something is seriously wrong with your car. Removing the thermostat is an old trick used by garages to hide an overheating engine long enough for someone to buy the car.

If the water level is ok then it could be a blocked radiator.

 

[jackie winstanley]

thanks. i bought the car in august and i have already spent 1500 on it! new camshaft head gasket gearbox and clutch! do you think my mechanic is responsible as he replaced the cam shaft and cylinder head or do you think it was probably like that when i bought it? either way ive got a shed and feel like a real mug!

 

[Anonymous]

Bummer, sorry to hear that. Its just such a shame that it is so hard to prove these sorts of things so the garages keep getting away with it.

Certainly if the thermostat has been left out then someone knew it was a lemon. Did you get it private or from a dealer?

Why did it need a new head and cam? Did it blow the head gasket?

If it did blow the head gasket then its likely the rad is bunged up with oil sludge. Nothing you can do about that, it will need a new rad.

 

[jackie winstanley]

injector light was coming on so i took it in and was told the camshaft was worn and needed replacing two weeks after i had it replaced the head gasket blew when i took it in they told me it had been replaced before (badly) so i could either have a new engine or skimmed head. tried the new engine route but found it impossible to get a reasonable engine so the garage did the head telling me they were not sure how long it last as could be an underlying problem with the engine. I bought the car off a dealer from his house he doesn't want to know. is there any way i can clean the sludge from the rad? your advice is much appreciated!

 

[Anonymous]

Nope, once the sludge sets its had it. I've tried!!

Sounds like it blew, was botched quickly and thats what made it go again.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

[jackie winstanley]

Ive taken the top and bottom hoses of the rad and flushed it through with a hose pipe the water is running clear. do you think its worth replacing the water pump? thanks for your help

 

[Anonymous]

Its worth a try. What does the inside of the rad look like (where the hoses fit on)? Is it coated with white stuff or can you see the black plastic ok?

 

[jackie winstanley]

rad looks fine. when the car is running the temp gauge in the car goes up but the rad stays cold and the rad fan does not kick in don't know what else to do beside chucking it off the nearest cliff!!!!!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

You 110% sure all the air is out of the system? Could be the rad is full of air.

 

[jackie winstanley]

good point i will have to check in the morning. is it just a matter of undoing the bleed screws or is there more to it? thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Should just be open the bleed screw and add water until it comes out.

 

[T2NY C]

Re: Re: thermostat

Jackie,

i've been reading this post, i cant help with the problem, but i can give some advice.

if the car was bought through a dealer, then u have a case under the sale of goods and services act 1979, revised 1984. it states that a product or service offered or sold, MUST be fit for the purpose it was purchased for, for a reasonable amount of time after the sale. basically, even if u got no warranty, if the car f**ks up within a short time of buying it, you have the right to demand either your money back, or the faults with the product should be rectified. if the product is inherantly faulty, a full refund can leagally be demanded.

if the car was bought as a private sale, the seller is liable for the car for 90 days after sale, so again, if it goes wrong within this time, he is responsible for the faults.

if i were you, i'd seriously be talking to citizans advice, trading standards and a solicitor.

I had problems with a previous bravo, when i did the sale of goods act bit with a solicitor in tow, the garage **** themselves and coughed up for full repairs!

Tony.