Berlingo - not overheating.

[Zelandeth]

Just now, Marm Toastsmith said:

Seems to have fixed itself for now, we'll see.

 

Which to me also says brushes.  

Which if it is, it will stay fixed...right up until it doesn't.  Which you can guarantee will be in the most inconvenient location when it's pissing it down sideways.  Especially as we're about to start getting into the time of year when batteries take a hammering.  

It's always harder to judge on vehicles as new as this as that has the alternator under ECU control (in the interests of improving economy) rather than just having a regulator that's tied to the battery voltage.  Makes judging the actual condition of the battery and efficacy of the charging system much harder with normal DIY equipment.  Assuming yours has that nonsense anyway, mine in an 06 plate absolutely definitely has!  It confused the heck out of me the first time I had a meter attached to the battery with the engine running and saw the voltage drop briefly every time the engine was revved.

They really are supremely useful vehicles though aren't they?  Drive way better than they've any right too as well.  Though given how much Pug 306 there is under the skin I guess that isn't a huge surprise.

[Marm Toastsmith]

1 hour ago, Zelandeth said:

Which to me also says brushes.  

Which if it is, it will stay fixed...right up until it doesn't.  Which you can guarantee will be in the most inconvenient location when it's pissing it down sideways.  Especially as we're about to start getting into the time of year when batteries take a hammering.  

It's always harder to judge on vehicles as new as this as that has the alternator under ECU control (in the interests of improving economy) rather than just having a regulator that's tied to the battery voltage.  Makes judging the actual condition of the battery and efficacy of the charging system much harder with normal DIY equipment.  Assuming yours has that nonsense anyway, mine in an 06 plate absolutely definitely has!  It confused the heck out of me the first time I had a meter attached to the battery with the engine running and saw the voltage drop briefly every time the engine was revved.

They really are supremely useful vehicles though aren't they?  Drive way better than they've any right too as well.  Though given how much Pug 306 there is under the skin I guess that isn't a huge surprise.

Ah well, we'll see. I'm hoping it's an erroneous warning as it only lasted a few minutes. Just driven 100 miles and not a flicker. To be honest there's little chance of me rebuilding the alternator unless it actually breaks, but if it does let me down as per your description I'll be sure to let you know and give you full credit for being correct in your assessment. 

And yes, it's bloody useful and I bloody love it. The combination of practicality and charm is hard to beat but what I really love is just how it's such a simple, rational design, seems nothing is over complicated or over engineered.

[Marm Toastsmith]

On 12/09/2024 at 17:26, Zelandeth said:

Which to me also says brushes.  

Which if it is, it will stay fixed...right up until it doesn't. 

Light came on again yesterday on the return leg of a short trip. I'll get the voltmeter out again in a bit but I've got a stinking cold and don't much fancy leaving the house.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Overdue update time. Mainly I haven't posted because the car has behaved perfectly - no sign of the battery light since the last post.

It's been my go-to motor for local errands, it's also the car I chose when I had a 300 mile round trip to do. It's decent on fuel. Not sure what MPGs are but they're good enough that fill ups are not painful.

The newish front tyres wore quickly and unevenly so last month I had them replaced with a pair of budget DYNAMOs and had the tracking done.

A bit of rust has surfaced on the N/S sill. It's been welded (near) here before. It's a long time to the next MOT so my thoughts are somewhere between "put some tape over it" and "look out for deals on a MIG in Lidl".

Realistically with the Lucida's arrival it's days are numbered as the Toyota trumps it for practicality. Which is a shame because it's so jolly, practical and likeable. We'll see...

[Marm Toastsmith]

Hmm

 

[Rustybullethole]

Is that the red stop of doom illuminated? Have you tried turning it off and back on? Fixes most stuff on mine. 

If you tackle that sill id advise chucking the whole washing machine in the back rather than cutting off what you think you may need. 

Don't wish to piss on your chips just found out the hard way myself. Its only metal though hey. 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Was hoping it had just done a french electrically speaking as there was no obvious sign of overheating when I checked under the bonnet. Turning it on and off again did nothing though unfortunately.

Rad was cold, top hose warmish, bottom cold. Could see coolant in the expansion tank, not hot. Engine itself did not feel or smell hot.

I switched on the ignition half an hour later, temp gauge seemed to be working (was showing at about the first line, i.e. cool but not cold)

Possible that there’s a circulation issue or lack of coolant in the rad/block, I’m leaning towards thinking it’s a dodgy sensor or gauge or other electrical fault though. Will check it out more thoroughly tomorrow.

@Rustybullethole you’re probably right about the sill but I don’t mind. Either I’ll pay someone to fix it without regard to the expense (because it’s a good car that deserves to live) or do the sensible thing and get shot of it before I have to deal with the MOT. It’s more than paid for itself already in terms of its usefulness, and I have the Lucida as a plan B.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Gave it a once over today, topped up the coolant (barely needed a drop) and allowed it to reach normal operating temperature, which it did without fuss. When it got warm the fan kicked in and cooled it, twice.

No sign that there's any fault apart from with the instrumentation.

[plasticvandan]

I have never heard the fans come on on mine,it gets up to 90 on the gauge,stat opens and it sits around 82,more you drive it you just watch the gauge creep up till stat opens again then it drops.have left it running for ages to see if I could get the fan to kick in but no

[Marm Toastsmith]

1 hour ago, plasticvandan said:

I have never heard the fans come on on mine,it gets up to 90 on the gauge,stat opens and it sits around 82,more you drive it you just watch the gauge creep up till stat opens again then it drops.have left it running for ages to see if I could get the fan to kick in but no

🤔 that seems a bit odd. But if it works!

Cooling system on mine seems effective either way. Took a long while idling for the fan to kick in at around 92 which seems about right.

It didn’t seem remotely hot when I got the warning, and it didn’t make sense to me that I hadn’t noticed the gauge climbing. I was coasting down a long hill so I would normally expect it to be running cool.

 I’m convinced it’s just flaky instrumentation but I’ll keep a watchful eye on it.

 

[vaughant]

On 24/12/2024 at 20:35, Marm Toastsmith said:

🤔 that seems a bit odd. But if it works!

Cooling system on mine seems effective either way. Took a long while idling for the fan to kick in at around 92 which seems about right.

It didn’t seem remotely hot when I got the warning, and it didn’t make sense to me that I hadn’t noticed the gauge climbing. I was coasting down a long hill so I would normally expect it to be running cool.

 I’m convinced it’s just flaky instrumentation but I’ll keep a watchful eye on it.

 

Hmmmmm my experience of these is that once it starts overheating you've got issues. 

All of mine have had the same issue and almost everytime a new rad has sorted it out. 

They're a piece of piss to change as well. 

All of mine improved greatly with a new rad.

Also all, apart from the hdi had fan switches on them to cool as the temp sensors to bring the fan on are often very flaky.

[Marm Toastsmith]

10 minutes ago, vaughant said:

Hmmmmm my experience of these is that once it starts overheating you've got issues. 

All of mine have had the same issue and almost everytime a new rad has sorted it out. 

They're a piece of piss to change as well. 

All of mine improved greatly with a new rad.

Also all, apart from the hdi had fan switches on them to cool as the temp sensors to bring the fan on are often very flaky.

It's not overheating. At least I'm fairly sure it's not. If it does though, I'll suspect the rad. 👍