Cool Runnings! (now broken again)

[Guest]

Bit strange, the Galant has decided it doesn't want to warm up now, it gets to about 1/8th up the gauge and simply stays there. The autochoke keeps it up at high revs too, which is my main concern as it drives awful like that.Usually I'd just think it's the thermostat needs doing, but it seems a little strange as the vehicle is in regular use and I only changed it about 18 months ago.Before I spend £11 on another thermostat, is there anything else it could be? Seems very strange as I was using it earlier today without issue and now it's decided to be a bit of a dick.Cheers.

[Richard]

Take the thermostat out and see if it's stuck open. You can test them with a pan of water, a cooker and a thermometer.It's entirely possible for an 18 month old thermostat to be buggered.

[garethj]

It's possible there's trapped air in there, have you had the cooling system open at all and not bled it?Otherwise, 1 more vote for thermostat.

[retrogeezer]

I was also told that if the water pump was on on the way out or had broken fins it would cause cold running. Not sure if thats correct or not though.

[Mr Lobster]

Thermostat is easiest option to check anyway, otherwise maybe an airlock in system?

[Guest]

Not done anything with the cooling system since changing the thermostat (flushed and replaced the coolant whilst I did it).Think I'm just kidding myself really, took it to work this morning and I'd be genuinely surprised if it's anything but the thermostat. Think I'll just order one in and stop moaning. Can't believe it's failed though, cost me over a tenner that did. Disgraceful.

[Pete-M]

See if the rad is uniformly hot. That's normally a good indication.

[STUNO]

[Guest]

Had to pop down to the factors the other day on a seperate mission, so asked the nice lady if she had any Galant thermostats - they did! Took the old one out this morning and it was indeed knackered. Fitted the new one and the Galant is running lovely again, nice and warm.Though one rather interesting point is that the contents of my cooling system were a brown colour, not unlike a nice pint of bitter. Strange as I only changed the coolant mix about 12 months ago. Doesn't lose any water either. So I stuck the hosepipe in it until clean water came out, but is it worth doing anything else? I've only got water in at the moment so it's going to have to come out before winter anyway. I know that commercial products exist, but I've no idea whether they just knacker everything up.CHEERS.

[Milford Cubicle]

I've used some sand-like coolant flush before, I think it's made by Holts - it probably is just silica in a pot.It did a good job of cleaning out the cooling system in my old Primera diesel which had quite a lot of brown gunk in it.

[Station]

Think the thermostats are exactly the same on every marque. The difference between a Starion and one twenty years later was the same! I had a spare one as well.

[Twiggy]

I found this interesting........ may be helpful to you:

 

http://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=72682#72682

[Station]

I found this interesting........ may be helpful to you:http://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=72682#72682

Sounds interesting, where does one get this Aquicut? I've also got some Inhibitor stuff for c/h, is this compatible?

[Guest]

Uh oh! Was out today and weird metallic noises started coming from under the bonnet. I don't like the sound of that. Temperature was fine, where it usually sits. Luckily I was only a minute away from my destination so I pulled over and popped the bonnet and there's a brown water dripping into the subframe. Can't really tell where from, but there's fresh stains on a few of the pipes and the underside of the bonnet - all on the drivers side so at least it is unlikely to be my thermostat job! Anyway, looked in the expansion tank and there was still some water in there, no mayonaise to be found in the oil, radiator seems fine, engine still runs great. Hard to tell where the noises are coming from, but doesn't seem to be the engine itself.Got on with the evening and the time came to drive it back, I topped the radiator up - lost a bit of water but not a catastrophic amount. Then I put the heater on full whack and headed back home with Vicsmith following in his Capri to help ensure my survival (cheers fella). Bar loads of random metallic crunching/clonking/clattering and some fanbelt squeal, it drove fine and managed not to boil up which is probably for the best as stopping on an unlit stretch of dual carriageway at midnight isn't ideal.So taking everything into account, I reckon the water pump has packed up, probably on account of this brown water thing. What do you think, Autoshite? Hope so, they're only 15 quid. That's my sort of money.Anyway, it's tucked up in the driveway now and I'm back in the Charmant, so not the end of the world as I can marvel at my two - count 'em - two gloveboxes and luxurious deep-pile carpet. Bliss!

[STUNO]

Sounds just like a waterpump eating itself

[Spottedlaurel]

Sounds like you need to get the ex-Bollox 2-litre in there.

[whitevanman]

sounds like the pump shreading its bearing

[Andrew353w]

sounds like the pump shreading its bearing [/quote

 

Not sure how the water pump is powered on your car, but on new V.W./Skoda/Seat etc. engines the water pump is powered from the cam belt, so iof the water pump plays up there's a POSSIBILITY that the cam belt could jump a tooth or worse. I'd suggest an examination sooner rather than later. If the pump is powered off the cam belt I'd recommend changing the belt as well; if you've stripped that much of the engine you might as well do the belt and it could have been damaged by the pump's failure.

 

Just a thought...

[Milford Cubicle]

Older engines usually have a water pump driven by an auxiliary belt.Sounds like that's the case with the Hirst ride, he mentioned the fan belt squealing.

[Guest]

I'd love to stick the 2-litre in, but I'm not really in a position to have it unusable for that long at the moment. Really need the Stanza or the 323 on the road, don't like racking up too many miles on the Charmant.Luckily my engine is the furthest thing from a new VAG engine possible, the Mitsubishi "Saturn" came about in the late 60s! My main concern was getting home without boiling over and knackering the engine up. Milf is correct though, from a cursory glance in the dark, it's on some little auxilary belt. I'll have a proper look at the weekend. Hopefully it'll just be a case of buying that water pump for £15, mess around fitting it, repeatedly flush the system, then resume flooring it down Westgate in 2nd gear in an attempt to run people over when they're out clubbing.Cheers anyway! Will keep you updated.

[Mike D]

If I get the E320 tonight you're more than welcome to borrow the MX6 while you fit the 2 litre to the Galant Brother_Hirst

[Guest]

Cor, that's an offer and a half! I love that motor.Dunno though, we'll see.

[pogweasel]

Hirst man, your colleagues down the council offices will think you've won the lozza if you bowl up in an MX6.

[Guest]

Probably, until they see my tatty shoes, then they'll think I've nicked it.

[Mike D]

I bought it! I reckon you're more Michael Flatley than Michael Carroll though Hirst!! You should deffo get some 'chrome arch' style trimz for your shoes to match , mind!

[Station]

I wonder why the water pump is run on the same belt as the cams, etc (ie, the important bit). I realised why it might be on my MR2 when the alt belt snapped, and I thought 'What the hey', but then I had steam coming out of the back, realising I had no water flow.I have a leaking water pump. Sometimes the gasket/seal goes and leaks. Make sure you don't overfill coolant, it's pressurised. ;)Still can't find any Aquicut.