Technical Unable to bleed cooling system - overheating

[Dragon Man]

first off, i have been searching the forum for info on this but it seems no one has had the problem i am getting.
oh and also, the search feature i think is broken, i search for loads of keywords but it keeps coming up with no results ???

anyway.

few weeks ago i did the engine flush + oil change on the car. at the time i had no radiator on. so i stuck the old one on and filled the system full of water just to use temporary. the system bled its self fine as soon as the temp got to around 90. at this point in time i had already replaced the thermostat.
(the pump really flung the water round, when it bled the whole top pipe started to shake and it all bubbled up through the expansion tank.)


now, for the past 2 days i have been trying to bleed the system, now i have a new radiator and coolant.
thing is, it just wont bleed. nothing i do will make it bleed. ive squeezed every hose many times i have revved the engine and squeezed the hoses but nothing. the engine has been getting hot, up to 120.c at one point where i forgot to check the temperature while trying to bleed the system. the thermostat opens as the pipe gets too hot to touch but the radiator is not hugely warm, and the fan heater starts off nice and warm but then goes to really cool.

i have also drained the cooling system a few times and refilled it. i have even parked the car in differnt positions pointing up hill and down hill. but still, no pumping of water.

like i said, i know the pump is good as when we used just water in the system it bled fine with no issues.

i know theres no bleeding points in this system, but is there anything i have missed?

 

[panda1408]

Try removing the top hose at the radiator end and then fill the system, that should allow any air to escape from the radiator.

 

[Dragon Man]

Try removing the top hose at the radiator end and then fill the system, that should allow any air to escape from the radiator.

i have :/

i have even filled the whole system through the top hose too.. very slowly. it take a while for the liquid to get through the small bleed hole in the thermostat. but i did it just to try and bleed the damn thing.

i have no yet taken the pipe off the input pipe to the pump.. will have to do that.

 

[alfa115spider]

Hi

I have 2 Pandas, a K reg and an M reg. They both have a bleed screw on the radiator (stood in front of the car, top left - you turn it by hand. Its a small creamy white plastic knurled knob, with a single fin. If the fin has been broken gently use some pliers).

There is also a screw on the water pipes that go to the heater matrix (small black plastic knurled screw).

You dont have any "mayonaise" in the oil filler cap do you - if its gurgling I wonder if there is a head gasket issue - does it loose water?

Good luck

 

[Dragon Man]

thanks for the info, but i do not have any bleed points. i have the 4x4 panda that does not have any

the head gasket is fine, when i got the car there was a small bit under the oil filler, but to be fair the car has been used to transport animal feed from a house to a barn so lets face it, super short runs.

oil that came out of it was well used, but no signs of moisture and the old coolant was still a very clear fluorescent yellow. compression test was very good both wet and dry.

i guess ill just have to keep at it until it decides to work.

like i said last time i just filled the thing with water and it did everything its self.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

4x4 is self bleeding. I can't remember if the heater matrix hoses have a bleed nipple on, but know the rad doesn't.

My guess is possibly a block in the rad - or is this the one that's had only water in it

 

[panda1408]

Sounds like there is a problem with the new rad then, seems odd though I know it will be a pain but maybe try refitting the original one to see if that still bleeds ok.

 

[Dragon Man]

ive taken the rad off and put the old one on, same story i am afraid. drained the coolant and filled with water and it bled fine??!!??!!??!!

so i drained it and put the coolant in and again, it would not bleed.

not sure if trolling... or.. just a fluke.

i think im gonna keep draining it and filling it till i catch it. maybe filling it while the engine is running might work.

if not ill replace the water pump... what the hell it is 21 years old.. been advised to also change the head gasket however if its not failing i dont see why.

i guess i will add more fun later.
i really need to get the welding done and windscreen back in, but keep the ideas rolling in guys.
thanks for the input so far

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'm with you John, if it ain't broke don't fix it so leave the HG.