Any lasting damage? (2.5 KV6)
 

Hi all,

I bought this car a month or so ago and I've fallen in love! Well for the most part, having taken her in for something unrelated, it turns out that both the thermostat is sticking and the radiator cooling fan is faulty. Unfortunately I didn't realise as the dash needle was looking fine temp wise (I assume because the thermostat is sticking) and the fan was kicking in but only on a low speed. Thank God for the cold weather.

The issues are being sorted out, I just wondered what the general consensus was on whether this might have caused any lasting damage? Unfortunately I don't know when the issue first occurred but I assume it was before my ownership of the car.

Would I be looking at future HGF? I know that this is blissfully uncommon on this car.

Thanks,
Nick.

Bought my present V6 as spares or repair following a series of garage failures to solve the overheating problem. Thermostat replaced, fan replaced etc and after each repair they told the owner "it's fixed" it wasn't. When they then said it must be the headgaskets he gave up and sold me the car as spares (belts 2 years old).
The car overheated on it's way back to my garage twice, towed it the last bit home. It overheated despite a working fan and outside temperature of minus 12c.
Next day it was running as it should, cause: a very stubborn airlock.
Your car should be fine, lots of owners don't even know how to test the fan, the V6 hasn't got the reputation of the 1.8

Regards

False alarm?
 

Hi Nick,

I am puzzled. A temperature gauge in the nine o'clock position and radiator fan running at low speed isn't an indication, on its own, that there's anything wrong with your car. Do you have any other symptoms?

It's virtually impossible for your fan to fail in such a way that you retain the low speed and lose the higher speed(s). I'm not convinced that your garage has understood how the system works (see Vitesse's story).

Without any evidence of overheating, the question of lasting damage doesn't arise.

Simon

I totally agree with Simons post above.

I think you just have air in the system.

You say the garage is going to sort this out and probably charge you lots of money :eek: when you could sort this out yourself for nothing.---:D

If you're not confident about investigating the problem yourself better going to someone who knows what they're doing rather than any garage. Click on the T4 Location Map link below. Includes all club traders and garages recommended by members.

Evening Gents,

Sorry, this is my fault for not adding enough information.

The car was hitting 110 degrees from the read out, fan kicked in only once on medium, yet the temperature gauge on the dash is taking a very long time to reach 9 o'clock and never exceeding it. The car is with Gavin Fairley now, who I found on this forum, so I'm 110% sure that the issue has been diagnosed correctly in this instance.

As you can likely tell, I'm definitely more of an armchair supporter :D although learning to do little bits myself like the plenums.

Thanks,
Nick.

Hi, Nick.---Now don't forget to post up the end result of all your trials and tribulations.

Hope you come out of it in a happy place.---;)

:duh: Apologies, I had meant to!

She's back with me now, feeling a lot better despite needing some new VIS motors, but that can wait until after the apocalypse. In addition to the cam belt and pump change (belts were all original :eek:), she's had a new thermostat and fan as well as some other little bits.

There was a rattle coming from the manifold before I dropped the car off for repair, but Gavin couldn't replicate it and I haven't heard a peep from it since I got the car back. I'm sure it will need doing eventually along with the VIS motors but again, I'm not in a hurry. The moths in my wallet have had a good airing and the wife may murder me if I spend any more. I may have a go at the motors myself later on in the year, seems easy enough.

Bodywork is my next focus, she'll get a good clean and polish/wax this weekend if the weather holds out. I wouldn't normally bother in the winter but I want to get something on to protect the paintwork. Alloys will need a good refurb in the summer.

Shout out to Gavin if he's reading, for doing all the work. Great service.

Hi Nick,

Thanks for updating us. You haven't mentioned the cooling system though! Was the thermostat "sticking" and what was wrong with the radiator fan?

Regarding the manifold chamber rattle, lift out the power VIS actuator and make sure that the valve linkage is properly mated with it. If there's a problem here you'd be wise to tackle the VIS system first. Club member Stocktake specialises in repair and modification of these. Give him a call. :D

Simon