Temp problems

**rvrolla** · 22-11-2006, 08:26 AM

Hi all,

We have a Proton Satria which is having cooling problems, I have a feeling the radiator may be blocked or something.

The other day the missus was driving the F3 and it started to over heat, so she pulled over and checked the coolant level, it was a little low - topped it up and was on her way again. It started to get hot again, so she wacked on the heater and it came back down.

I have since been driving the car and yesterday I was sitting still for about 10-15 minutes with the AC running and the temp stayed under half. I then drove off, revving the engine out and the temp started to come up - whacked on the heater and it dropped again.

So in summary, if I drive hard, it gets hot. As soon as I start cruising and throw the heater on it brings the temp back down. Does this sound like a blocked radiator problem? A little while ago it was loosing water, I found the water pump to be the problem there and had it swapped out. Whilst I have been driving it, it has not lost any water, but just gets hot.

Thanks in advance for you help.

Dan.

**kingmick** · 22-11-2006, 09:01 AM

Check you havnt got an airlock.
Check no oil etc in the water.
run your hands over the radiator and see if there is heat over the core.
Check thermostat is working properly.
Check the thermo fan is cutting in.
Then get the system pressure tested and go from there.

**rvrolla** · 22-11-2006, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the reply champ.

1) I burped it yesterday to try and rid any air locks
2) The water seems to be clean, haven't noticed any oil
3) the radiator seemed to be quite warm yesterday when i had it running, but I will double check this.
4) The thermostat is only a few months old, however this does not rule it out as a possible cause to the problem. I might go buy a new one today and try it.
5) The thermo fan definitely is cutting in.

Thanks again!

Dan.

**kingmick** · 22-11-2006, 10:04 AM

if you replace it with a generic thermostat, it might be the problem. ive had a few that have been stuffed after a short period. If you changed it a few months ago, it could be the culprit.

check the core with your hand, there could be a blockage in it somewere.

Then get the system pressure tested if none of the two above.

**rvrolla** · 22-11-2006, 10:07 AM

Thanks bud, what should I be looking for when feeling the core? Warm in certain places etc?

**kingmick** · 22-11-2006, 11:40 AM

hot from the inlet side and getting cooler toward the oulet side!
feel for cold patches etc around the core.

**cressida_1jz** · 23-11-2006, 12:01 AM

Id say the radiator is blocked up.

Very common for them.

As you put load on it,it gets hot so thats the only thing it can be.

**EldarO** · 23-11-2006, 01:53 PM

blocked radiator, from the sounds of it 60-70% blocked, as most people now are actually running around with a 40% or so blocked radiator, yet it only becomes evident during hard driving, towing etc. etc.

rip it out, and take it to natrad or something, get them to clean it.

if your top tank looks brittle, then be prepared to pay for a replacement one.

Eldar.O.

**ProjectSleeper** · 23-11-2006, 02:06 PM

Hey Dan,

Exact same thing happened with my Cressida (hence I bought the new Radiator from Cressida 1jz). He pulled my old radiator apart to check it first and it was blocked that badly that it wasn't worth trying to clean it out, and for $470 for an alloy core replacement - the choice was simple..

I now run the twin thermos and the only time I have seen the temp creep up past normal was yesterday ( 40+ degree ambient temps, air con on full and 90+ degrees underbonnet and intake temps with heatsoak heading up a long hill on about 7-8psi boost for about 20 sec..) - went about 3 bars above normal but then quickly came back down once cruising.

in normal 20 degree temps, the temp remains perfect, regardless of how hard I drive it...