(Home) Buying / better temperature gauge

Dear all, .I am looking for one for the wife who is a childminder,the 3 door Astra is just too small.I can scrape £4,500 and have been looking around.I've read info from both sites but am still worried about the cooling problem,can you put my mind at rest??? I live in Warminster and have visited some dealers in Bournemouth as someone suggested but they all seemed a bit tatty for 4-5k,and the one i drove at Southern Motors had the coolant warning light on and the bloke said don't worry about it??.I have looked at bristolmpvcentre.com who have what appear to be some nice looking examples,do you know this dealer in any way? or can you reccomend any or know anyone selling private.We really fancy a 7 seater with captain seats but it will take all our savings and we don't want to end up with a dog that will cost us loads.Also if i am brave enough to buy would you suggest converting to an electric fan as a precaution?, i am also told that a viscous fan can be "locked" so it runs as a standard beld driven. Many thanks for your time and for the excellent site.
Paul Chapman

- (#5021) Paul Chapman, 6 Aug 02

Paul,
I bought from bristolmpvcentre and had no problems. They use a 3rd party after sales cover insurance now so all things are covered should you have any problems. I had a knock from the front and the sticky starter problem, knock gone and starter overhauled, the starter problem was still there (see postings on Townace.com), but at least it was attended to without fuss and at a garage near me. I paid by credit card so additional cover that way. Mark and Paul are happy for you to try out any and all the stock and let you have a drive on your own for up to half an hour depending on trade (one set of trade plates). Private sales buyer beware, if you get a pup you have no come back. Don't lock the fan! Some have converted to electric but only after/during problems - if it ain't broke don't fix it.
And lastly you should have started a new thread as this is tacked on the end of The BoK is dead one and may have been missed.
Go get one you know you want to.
HTH Clive

- (#5023) Clive, 7 Aug 02

I have converted our 4WD Townie to electric fan, mainly as a precautionary measure, I'd rather she was over cooled, rather than overheating, with the almost inevitable headgasket failure & subsequent head crack scenario. I fitted a Rover fan with Kenlowe switch in the top hose, works really well, runs on for a few minutes after switch off & runs just below the middle of the gauge at all times. We went to Yeovilton yesterday, 120 Miles on M3 A303 at up to 150Kph (95Mph) with air con on, even though she slowed a little on the hills, the temp gauge didn't even rise. So in conclusion, don't lock the viscous fan, scrap it, go electric & you'll also get the 8Hp or so that the fan takes back. Regards Rob.

- (#5036) Rob Drinkwater, 7 Aug 02

Be warned, though. If you're hoping that the temp. gauge will indicate overheating, think again. The gauge (and that of other Toyotas too) seems to stay rock steady in the middle untill half of your coolant has p*ssed out and the head is taking on a banana shape...
I've fitted a proper temp gauge, and the coolant temp varies by almost 15c in normal conditions. On most cars, this would be perhaps a fifth of the gauges scale. On ours, no indicated change...
Rob, do you know what temp your fan cuts in/ out at?

- (#5040) david miller, 8 Aug 02

temp gauge
david what make of gauge did you fit and how and where did you tap into the wet circuit regarding the transducer (electric or mechanical transducer)
i just came back from france - did 2000 miles carrying 4 kids and my mrs with no probs - i took it steady @ 55 mph averaged about 29 mpg - i fitted a fapa alta roofbox with thule roofbars and it made a very big difference to the luggage capacity in fact without this it would have been difficult - anyone wanting details or a picture should see the ace answers where a picture has been made available (anyone wanting one can get a decent discount from the roofbox co - online)
regards jim
- (#5047) J ADGO, 8 Aug 02

Jim, I got a durite electrical gauge. There's a TIM one as well.
At the moment I'm using the original sensor with a resistor in series to "adapt" it, but will fit the correct sensor at the weekend.
The standard location is good for the sensor- the outlet neck on the top of the head gets too hot (!) and there's nowhere spare on the block.
I reckon that I can fit the gubbins of the gauge in place of the original, inside the instrument panel, for a factory look.

Now, to complete the weekend, I've a skimmed head and cracked pistom to replace...(don't ask...)

- (#5048) david miller, 8 Aug 02

thanks for the replies,i can understand Clives theory but surly prevention is better than an expensive cure of a known problem? Rob i'm sure i can't condone 95mph but is that some sort of record for a Townie? well done,and what sort of rover did your fan come from?
Please excuse my ignorance but how do i start a new thread? anyway still looking,i'm sure i'll get what i want, saw one at bristolmpv centre,think it was a master ace,7 captain seats 55,ooo miles all seemed good nick apart from 6 inch square hole in carpet on raised part behind drivers seat,bloke said he thought it had a TV fitted in Japan,had it up for £4695 but said he would do it for £4500 with 3 months 5* warranty,any thoughts and could i replace holed carpet at reasonable price? sorry for blabbing on but your opinions are appreciated.

- (#5052) Paul Chapman, 9 Aug 02

Paul, to start a new thread, use the BACK button on your browser, then go to the bottom of the main page & do exactly what you did to post your last message, this time it will appear on the master page as a new thread. No 95 cant be a new record, I have done several miles on the M4 at 160Kph (100Mph), but you're right, they are no high speed cruiser, I wouldn't recommend doing it for long periods, but 80-85 Mph is quite comfortable to cruise at. Probably the reason ours goes quite well is because I'm in the trade & it is tuned by a friend who is a turbo diesel specialist & has the necessary equipment for tuning & also reconditioning turbos etc. And I also maintain it myself for all the other stuff. Price seems reasonable, get the warranty document & go through all the small print, take a lengthy test drive & watch the temp gauge & put some rubber matting over the hole, or perhaps fit a TV in place.

- (#5060) Rob Drinkwater, 9 Aug 02

Paul,
I have added this comment under "cooling" but, if you do start a new thread, no doubt you will get lots of owners very willing to assist you with comments.
I have had my Masterace for around 18 months and have been very pleased with it. However, I am a retired engineer (but no qualified vehicle technician), and am able to do my own repairs and maintenance I have mentioned my opinion before, these vehicles are NOT for the fainthearted or, for those with very limited mechanical abilities or enthusiasm. Many of the jobs, on a Town/Masterace type of vehicle, are labour intensive and, if you are paying someone else, the bills can be high. Even checking the levels, ie, water, oil etc, requires quite a bit of fiddly seat movement and, in my opinion, leads to the inevitable neglect by some owners. Buying from a dealer, with a warranty, should give you peace of mind and, any serious mechanical problems should show up within the warranty period. I endorse Rob's comments. Go through the warranty with a magnifying glass and, if you don't really know what to look for re potential cooling problems, I am sure there are many contributors to this BOK (including myself) who would be pleased to advise you further. The "Achillees Heel" is the cooling system but,provided it is checked thorougly and maintained regularly, problems should be able to be contained before they become big and expensive.
These vehicles have a specification which would cost upwards of £15,000 with other MPV's and, in my opinion they are very satisfying to drive and own. The high spec, and relativly low price, does give some advantage in budgeting for high garage bills but, many garages have little or no experience of them and tend to condemn them. A good garage, familiar with this type of vehicle, is essential if you do not maintain the vehicle yourself. Also,one of the best "tools" you can have is this BOK and the very comprehensive Ace Answers listings.

- (#5062) John Davis, 10 Aug 02

Hi all,well i think i may have found what i want,H reg Royal Lounge 2.0Td 2WD 64k miles,private sale £3200 ono.The inside is in good condition,no holes in the carpet!no hot/cold box.Bloke has had it for a year and paid £6000 from Southern Motors,Bournmouth and he has done 15k in it last year, and has new MOT.I took it for a drive and have a few questions, the "door open"
light stays on, the 65mph buzzer sounds, anyone with knowledge on remedy.I drove it around Bournemouth for awhile and then along the A338 towards Ringwood 60-75 mph for about 20 minutes,temp gauge never went past middle,your opions would be appreciated,i am thinking of AA/RAC inspection,are they worth anything,would i have any comeback?The paintwork is average,a few scratches here and there,could do with a good polish.The nearest equovelant i have seen is £4500 at the Bristol MPV centre,so i'm thinking save myself £1500 if anything goes wrong,your thoughts please.
once again thanks for taking the time to read and reply

Paul
ps yes,where has it all gone???

- (#5073) Paul Chapman, 12 Aug 02

Did you actually lock the doors, using the driver's door mounted 'lock' switch, otherwise the light will not go out, if you did, then one of the doors isn't closed properly or the switch in one of the doors is faulty. The 100kph buzzer is easily disabled, instructions on townace.com price is reasonable, if as good as you say, if it doesn't seem to get hot in town, or at speed, then it may be a good one, but that still doesn't stop it going wrong when you get home. If you're happy with the motor & you have some extra cash to 'tidy the vehicle up' then this could be a good way to go. HTH Rob.

- (#5074) Rob Drinkwater, 12 Aug 02

i forgot to ask, whilst driving about 60mph i gave it full throttle to make it change down a gear and accelerate hard,which it did,at the same time it did puff some smoke from the rear end and was the only time it did,am i right in thinking this is normai for diesel under hard acceleration to nearly the red line?
thanks again

Paul

- (#5088) Paul Chapman, 13 Aug 02

Yes, I think it is normal. Mine certainly does it!!

- (#5209) Phil, 13 Aug 02

normal...

- (#5089) david miller, 14 Aug 02

Yes, I think it is normal. Mine certainly does it!!

- (#5096) Phil, 13 Aug 02

Paul dont forget you are in effect dropping a gear and a half .. the converter unlocks which accounts for 250 rpm and u loose top gear too , hence the high revs
regards jim

- (#5112) J Adgo, 14 Aug 02

I have a toyota hilux utility that runs a 1.8 litre 2y motor. I know that the 3y motor can be fitted in place of the 2y without any modifications. I would like to know however whether any of the higher performance overhead cam toyota engines can be fitted without modification to the engine mounts etc. Also, is the 4y motor the same as the 2&3y motors in appearance and engine mounting.....yes, I want more power! I would appreciate any advice on this.

- (#5430) Peter hardy, 5 Sep 02