Our Townie runs fine around the town, and is quite happy on A and B roads, BUT as sonn as you take it on a run at a steady 60ish, within 1/2hr the temp gauge starts to wander up and down about the centre point. The last time this happened (last Weekend) I stopped the car and looked at the engine. Water was coming out of the Rad expansion box through the pipe, the water was at boiling point in the expansion box, and was muddy brown in colour. After a few mins when everything calms down the temp is fine again for a while, Does this mean I have an air block somewhere, or is it something else, strange how it only happens on the motorway?? - (#294) Bob Amabile, 15 Jun 01
Might be head gasket, blocked or leaking rad, or the fan coupling starting to give up.
Take the bus for a run with the seat up, ang keep an eye on the fan at the speed you're having problems at. If it stops, the coupling is dead (you can refill them with new silicone fluid, not sure of the success rate...)
Replace the rad cap. It only costs a few quid.(small nissan/ jap at your parts place)
The engine might not be overheating at all- a small leak in the system, especially the cap, will cause water to be forced into the expansion bottle as it expands. This is normally sucked back when the engine cools, but it won't if there is a leak. Over a period of time, the system empties to the stage where localised boiling can occur.If you let the engine cool overnight and take the rad cap off, water should be up to the neck. If it isn't you've got a leak...
HTH - (#299) David Miller, 16 Jun 01
I'll try the rad cap first, anyone any ideas what replacment cap will fit a 2.0TD townie?? - (#303) Bob Amabile, 16 Jun 01
Yup, just ask for "small nissan" at the motor factors. Halfords even carry it, it's listed for a Camry TD - (#304) David Miller, 16 Jun 01
Hi All,
I see that there are loads of messages about overheating, You will have to excuse me if this has been aswered before.
I have a 1986 2.0L petrol model F after a journey of any length there is a bubbling from the radiator expansion bottle. Is this a common problem in these vehicles?
Also periodically all three warning lights come on, water, oil and alternator simultaneously, but go again when I turn the ignition on and off again. I presume that this is an electrical problem as all three come and go together. Am I burying my head in the sand or could this be an indicator of something more serious?
- (#553) Paul Gilmour, 16 Jul 01
Do you lose any water as a result of the "bubbling" ?
Are there any common symptoms that immediately precede the warning lights coming on?
Ian - (#556) Ian Dunse, 16 Jul 01
All three warning lights coming on probably means the alternator needs a set of brushes- the other lights just think you've turned the ignition on and are doing their test... - (#558) David Miller, 16 Jul 01
Don't seem to lose much water, the level in the expansion tank goes down, but I think that may be the water getting so hot that it evaporates. I will try replacing the radiator cap. Is my Rad cap a standard small Jap one? I have the 2.0L petrol engine.
Paul - (#644) Paul Gilmour, 24 Jul 01
Paul
Sounds like radiator cap is worn. I'm pretty sure it is standard. Are there any markings on the top to give a clue. Take it into a car spares to compare. If you need vehicle to get there, I'll take a look in manual and see if any clues to spec.
Ian - (#647) Ian Dunse, 24 Jul 01
Getting really fed up with my Spacecriser - I seem to have a smattering of almost all the faults reported on the site. Main problem though is overheating. i've tried all of the fixed suggested including head gasket, new thrermostat, new rad cap etc. but the damn thing still boils up. Past postings have suggested that water flow through the system is an inherrent problem and that the thermostat is either
in the wrong place or too sluggish. would running without the thermostat cause problems? - (#1292) David Woollard-Kingston, 27 Oct 01
Yes, no thermostat will cause problems- like overheating... Is the fan clutch OK? - (#1294) David Miller, 27 Oct 01
David,
I have been through this series of problems with my Masterace (2C-T Diesel). Heaven forbid that you have to have another go at the head but, when you changed the gasket, did you get the head pressure tested and checked for cracks and level ? I am assuming that yours is a petrol engine and, I suppose, a head skim is not so important as the diesel but, it,s always worthwhile when the head is off. David's suggestion re the viscous fan coupling is an area which is sometimes overlooked.
With the coolant filler cap off, is there much water agitation at fairly low revs ? If it's excessive, there might be an unseen problem with the head. Have you changed the thermostat ? Mine, I am sure, was the original
and, when tested in boiling water, the valve was very sluggish to lift off the seat and then only slightly. - (#1307) John Davis, 28 Oct 01