| Author |
Message |
Jeff 77 GTB (Jbk)
Junior Member
Username: Jbk
Post Number: 101
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 6:27 am: | |
One other comment, Ed. On my 77 there is no vent on the thermostat housing. Only on the radiator. Does this system hold up that much air that it does take awhile to all vent out? I have had the system open lately. |
Jeff 77 GTB (Jbk)
Junior Member
Username: Jbk
Post Number: 100
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 6:24 am: | |
Ed, I also have to bleed a small amount of air everytime before I start up. Where could the air leak be coming from since I don't have any coolant leaks when the system is at temperature? I was thinking it could be the cap on the overflow tank, but this doesn't seem right since the fluid in the tank should provide a seal. Any advice on what to look for(or what you mean by other problems)? Thanks.
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Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 1868
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 5:08 am: | |
If you are constantly having to bleed air from your system you have a more serious problem. After a few minutes running with the thermostat open all the air should be out. |
Eamon A Blaney (Eamon)
New member
Username: Eamon
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, August 23, 2002 - 5:01 am: | |
I have had the whole nine yards of problems when it came to fans not coming on, dumping coolant out the overflow pipe etc.
The solution in the end up was very straightforward. A a new radiator cap (sourced from an Alfa Romeo dealer, part # 60561208, from an Alfa 33, cost $16. ) and a new radiator thermoswitch (sourced from a VW dealer, fits all Golfs/Rabbits 1980+, 180 degree, cost $12). I am still bleeding the radiator every day as there seems to be a shed load of air in it. It is important to ensure that you have the heating set to Hot to bring the heater rad into the equation. |
89TCab (Jmg)
Member
Username: Jmg
Post Number: 256
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 11:47 pm: | |
I am guessing that the engine thermostat is probably good as the overflow tank was dropping fluid via the relief tube by the time I could get off the road. I guess it would have only been blowing if it was indeed circulating. After the engine cooled and I could make my way around the stacked traffic, the engine ran cool when I was running at moderate speeds. I will be trying things tomorrow to see if I can break it down, thanks for the tips.
Lucky for me, I was true to my word with my wife and I don't have an extra cable lying around anymore since I cleaned up the garage. Arg! Time to make a trip to Radio Shack...
- JMG |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 1867
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 8:38 pm: | |
Also keep in mind that if the engine thermostat fails the coolant in the radiator will not circulate therefore the switch in the radiator will not close and the fans will not run. I see this on Hondas all the time. Customer will come in complaining that the car is running hot and the fans are not comming on. Simply feeling the radiator around the fan switch will tell if the radiator is getting hot enough for the switch to close. |
Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member
Username: 91tr
Post Number: 973
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 7:57 pm: | |
JMG -- the first thing to do is to try connecting the two wires coming into the coolant thermoswitch together (simulating the warm "closed" thermoswitch condition) -- with the key on, the water fans should run (if they still don't run, the thermoswitch probably isn't the problem). |
89TCab (Jmg)
Member
Username: Jmg
Post Number: 255
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 - 7:49 pm: | |
Mondial T
Noticed that my fans did not kick on today while sitting in traffic. I checked the fuses and they look good, suggestions on breaking down the fans/thermostat from here?
I was thinking about a direct line to the fans to verify that they work. If they did, I was going to order a new thermostat but I am not sure if this would really be isolating it to the thermostat or just wishful thinking.
Thanks,
JMG |