Oh jeez, where do i start?

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Arctic

i have a feeling you may be sending your car to one of the boys on here Trikey or Dave.

It's OK Steve, I live only a few miles from Lida and, as you'll have seen from previous posts, it's all in hand and a diagnosis has been reached. What Lida is doing today is giving the garage the opportunity to put right what they have messed up just in case she decides to take her complaint further.

Stand by for further developments!

Simon

[tourer]

It's like a soap opera.
Can't wait for tomorrow's episode.
Good luck!

[SD1too]

I've just received an update from Lida. The ex-MG Rover main dealer has had her car since 10 am for investigation. After repeatedly telling her that the radiator fan is working correctly (she told them that but they didn't want to listen) they're now saying that she needs a new coolant temperature sensor and she must pay for it.

I understand that she did not authorise this work and is on her way to collect the car. I have proposed the only solution and she is considering it. As you can imagine, all this nonsense is taking its toll.

Simon

[dave lincs]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi Lida.
Do let us know the outcome did they say how long they would need the car for to check and rectify the problem, even if they do that ? i have a feeling you may be sending your car to one of the boys on here Trikey or Dave.

Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Arctic I'm sure If either myself or Trikey are required to sort this then we can

[trikey]

Sounds to me like there is an airlock somewhere!

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by trikey

Sounds to me like there is an airlock somewhere!

That was my original thought too Andy but the garage's alleged vacuum fill plus two sessions of mine have not resulted in any improvement.
As said earlier, I suspect a faulty thermostat since the engine overheats mildly and the bottom radiator hose is tepid.

Simon

[lida]

In fact, Simon, my hair is falling out! lol Has been since early March, which may be due to the spell in hospital that I had in January.

[lida]

Unfortunately the forum does not allow document attachments, so I have typed up what happened today at the garage.

Carried out road test.
Fans cutting in correctly.
T4 test failed due to satnav not working and blocking straight diagnostic test.
Faults with satnav appear to be due to water ingress.
Water ingress was previously noted in 2016 but customer opted not to have work carried out. *
Carried out test to individual fan speed modes, all functioning and passing test.
Carried out Instrument Pack test. Coolant temp from I.P. read 94 C but test engine temp reading was 83 C. Suspect coolant temp sensor.
Rechecked fault codes, non present. Suspect temp sensor has worn.
Checked top and bottom hoses, both hot. Thermostat working correctly.
Internal temp gauge did not go to red, stays in middle of gauge showing that vehicle is not overheating.
Carried out probe test to coolant once reservoir had cooled enough to open.
Temp showing a 20 degree difference between what is being read on I.P. which confirms there is fault with current temp sensor.
Cutomer decided not to have any further work carried out on the vehicle.
No charge for rechecking work on vehicle.
=============================

* That was water ingress in the driver’s well. Garage rolled back carpet and let that area successfully dry out.
I removed Satnav 6 yrs ago when it was causing a parasitic drain.

What service manager is saying, therefore, is if the I.P shows a temp of 100 C, that is wrong due to faulty sensor. He is saying temp is actually 80 C. If that were true, then at 80 the car is not even at best operating temperature.

All along the way, I have been pointing out that both radiator hoses should be hot, surely. Service manager has said "Why would you want them to be hot?"

[TourerSteve]

Originally Posted by lida

What service manager is saying, therefore, is if the I.P shows a temp of 100 C, that is wrong due to faulty sensor. He is saying temp is actually 80 C. If that were true, then at 80 the car is not even at best operating temperature.

A feasible diagnoses which would cause the issues you describe as would cut your fan in before your car reaches operating temperature and explain why your bottom hose is tepid
Temperatures can easily checked by using a infra red thermometer and would confirm temperatures around the system and are a useful addition to any toolbox .
https://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d03...t=Thermometers

With the above diagnoses you have to now try a temperature sender unit and I'm sure Simon will help source and fit one

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by lida

Carried out probe test to coolant once reservoir had cooled enough to open. Temp showing a 20 degree difference between what is being read on I.P. which confirms there is fault with current temp sensor.

Originally Posted by TourerSteve

With the above diagnoses you have to now try a temperature sender unit ...

Hello Steve,

As you can see the garage removed the expansion tank cap and directly measured the temperature of the coolant within. It was lower than the reading from the car's coolant temperature sensor (CTS) which is mounted at the hottest point in the block. From this the garage concluded that the CTS is over-reading.

As the expansion tank is not positioned in the flow of coolant (it is essentially a reservoir) of course it will be cooler than the engine block. This can be verified by touching the expansion tank and the top radiator hose of a running engine and noting the difference.

An over-reading CTS would not cause the fan to fail to reduce the coolant temperature which is what is happening.

Simon