Engine cooling fan - not cooling

[rstrang]

Hi All,

95 855 T5 GLE

Noticed the other day whilst driving in London that hot engine/antifreeze type smell - eventually decided it was me, not some other vehicle :-(

When I got home left the car running for a while and engine cooling fan didn't come on, temperature guage was maginally above the 3 O'clock position but not much (1-1.5mm) normally sits horizontal. When air con is turned on fan works OK.

Car doesn't seem to be losing any water.

From Haynes it seems that fan relays are driven by ECU and temperature sensor under thermostat drives the ECU.

Any ideas

Thanks

Richard

[warthog]

Richard,

there does seem to be slight variation in where on the temp gauge our cars run - I suspect this could be down to which temp thermostat you have fitted. Mine runs, like yours, just above horizontal and seems to be fine.

If you leave the ac on with the car left running, does the temp gauge come down any? If it doesn't then I would think that the thermostat is working fine. They seem to fail in the open position and show up by the car only getting to normal temp. when sitting in traffic.

In the winter I can leave my T5 running a considerable time without the cooling fan coming on unless there is an increased store of heat in the engine and gearbox following a hard drive (thrash :-) )

The hot engine smell may just be normal engine heat coming into the cabin.

Cheers

Brian

Richard, It sounds to me like you may have a leaky Heater Matrix. I think they're about £140 from ECP.
If it is leaking, that would explain both the smell, and the slightly higher running temperature.

Can you smell Antifreeze under the bonnet, or only inside the car?

Regards

Nigel 855R

[rstrang]

Thanks Nigel,

Pretty sure it's under the bonnet. Even though the car does tend to mist up with three damp kids on-board.


Keep up the running commentary on you car - Could be the next Harry Potter :-)

Richard

[sholtby]

If you aint loosing coolant but can smell it I think you are just going to have to keep a close eye on your temperature gauge, for leaks and on the level in the coolant bottle.
I know you can buy a pump that replaces the coolant bottle cap so you can pressurise the coolant system it has a gauge fitted to check if there is a fall in pressure which would indicate a leak. A good garage should have this tool.

Simon