Stonkin Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 Guys, When i was driving home tonight in my 1.4 astra i noticed the temp gauge was as high as it could go in the red. I stopped in a garage to let it cool down (i was only a couple of miles from home) but also noticed that the fan hadnt come on to cool it down, which normally comes on about 95 degrees. I have just checked all the fluids and the coolant is at the normal level. Could it be the thermostat that has gone, which stopped the fan coming on whilst i was stuck in traffic or could it be the fan which has gone. Any ideas welcome please guys. I'm even tempted to call the AA out to see what they say Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 it could be one or the other.or both, when its cold try squeezing the pipes to see if there is a blockage. also check fan connector and fuses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 cheers mate, checking fuses is a good idea, i will do that. I did squeeze the pipe leading to the coolant tank and it all bubbled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Massey Posted January 9, 2007 Share Posted January 9, 2007 could well be the thermostat then,in my mate new astra,only cost him £50 in local garrage to replace,its piss easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 I'm gona play with it more this w'end in daylight, its a 95 car so i'm sure a new thermostat will be cheap. In the mean time it means i get to drive the Supe which i havent driven since october. MY GOD! the drive to work was far more fun today than normal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaoriFan Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 i had same kind of thing, i had a 2.0GLi Carlton up until this week (now sadly had to scrap it due to ECU probs). i would be out driving and the temp gauge would just go up and up to about 115. whilst stationary in traffic queues in Tunbridge Wells it would just about redline at 120. i was told it needed a new viscose fan to solve the problem. but these were an order item from Vauxhall at 180gbp a throw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 If its the old MK2 or 3 Astra (probably later i dont know about them) they have a seperate thermostatic fan switch for the fan, usually located on one side of the rad near the bottom. Also the guage sender, usually at the front left of the engine near the thermostat often gets badly corroded, its only a crimp connector so just give it a clean up with a bit of emery. If it is a 1.4 or IIRC some 1.3's they hid the thermostat under the cambelt and its a bastard of a job. If the fan isnt cutting in, the fan switch is the first place to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra_Star Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Try bridging the fan so it has permanent connection to make sure it working at all cos even if it is thermostat or blockage the fan should have kicked in to cool it. If you do bridge it and it works try running car for a couple of days with fan permanently running and see if over heats then. If it doesnt then you will know that it is the fan switch that needs replacing which is the cheaper option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 John, very much appreciated mate. It is a 1.4, MK 3. I'm taking friday off to take a look at it in daylight. Its run fine since i've had it as a winter runner so hopefully it will be something cheap and easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 Supra Star, sorry if i'm being thick, but surely if it is the thermostat that has gone, the fan wouldnt come on would it, as it wouldnt have been told to by the thermostat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra_Star Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 The thermostat isn't what tells the fan to kick in. The fan switch has a different sensor which you can locate by following the wires back from the fan to the switch. it is usually a plug type sensor located on a hose or at the bottom of the rad or block I'm not too sure where on your car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 ah ok, i always thought, the car got hot, signalled the thermostat which then told the fan to come on. Ok, thick moment for the day So it could either be: fan broken fan switch thermostat guage sender Anyone know any good places to get any of these parts, i should i just use my local Cafco? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra_Star Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 They are the easiest, cheepest faults. There are others not so nice and much more expensive. I am still inclined to think that its the fan switch or fan because whatever, it should have kicked in to attempt to cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 Sorry i missed the post where you said year and model. The fan switch is seperate and on one side of the rad low down. IIRC the stat itself is located in a casting behind the cambelt on the 1.4(8v), hope you dont have to replace it as you have to remove the cambelt which will mean a new one and while your there, check the state of the pullys. As has been said, bidge the fan connections and see if it still overheats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 appreciated guys, be on the look at in this thread friday when i will no doubt need some help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letmeshowyou Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 my money would be on the fan switch too! In my Vauxhall days I usually ended up bypassing the switch and wiring it in so I could manually control from inside the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 It's called an Otter switch, it is probably in the rad tank. Try connecting together the terminals in the plug that goes to this switch, with the ignition on the fan should run. if it doesn't check if there's a fuse, if not check the fan itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 Cheers Chris, seems like your all placing a bet on the fan switch then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra_Star Posted January 10, 2007 Share Posted January 10, 2007 The fan switch is definately the place to start because even if you are unfortuneate enough to have another problem ie thermostat or blockage the fan should have kicked in to help cool it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 10, 2007 Author Share Posted January 10, 2007 well it did when i went to work that morning but during the day something obviously decided to pass away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 well i'm going out now to look at this beast, so i'm sure i will be along shortly with some questions, please help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkin Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 The beast is fixed!!! i checked the fan plug connector, the thermostat fan switch and all the fuses. It seems the fan cooling fuse was bent over at 45 degrees. I took it out and straightened it, left the car running and it now reaches just below 100 degrees and the fan comes on 100% every time and brings it back down to about 95 degrees. If i drive the car it sits happily just above 90 degrees. Which is what its always done. And to think i took the day off just to have some daylight to start taking the thing to pieces. Oh well, xbox time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now