HELP ME!! VR overheating

[mrk11d]

Ey

Over the last couple of days the temp. metre on the dash has been topping out. Its generally fine at speed as the air flow seems to cool it down, but then say at the lights it starts to heat up like a tin roof in january. The coolant level seems to be fine so any other knowledge would be much appreciated. Oh, and the idea of not stopping and just goin through the lights has been tried and failed already.

GK

[holden007]

Change the thermostat and check the water pump if its leaking, these are the two common problems.

[tsalad]

sounds like your fan isnt coming on. Have you checked relays and fuses.
The best way to check is have the car running - somewhere safe - not traffic lights - driveway is better - get it heating up then check under the bonnet.

Hot tip - keep hands away from fan and resist the urge to poke it if its not coming on

[holden007]

Originally Posted by tsalad

sounds like your fan isnt coming on. Have you checked relays and fuses.
The best way to check is have the car running - somewhere safe - not traffic lights - driveway is better - get it heating up then check under the bonnet.

Hot tip - keep hands away from fan and resist the urge to poke it if its not coming on

yes, check that first, but I had the same problem and it turned out to be the water pump.

[theburna]

Its cheaper to change the water pump and easy.
If its not that then go a new radiator around $135 on Ebay and they are good quality.
Make sure you get a 2 litre drink bottle and wrap lts of electrical tape around the neck, stick it in the radiator cap opening on the radiator, warm the motor and pour the coolant in the bottle until it runs out of the draining valve on the thermostat housing.
If its neither of these its the thermostat so I would suggest changing it with the radiator.
With VR/VS's its a sure bet that if they have had no major work in the past 2 - 3 years these will be an expense you can look forward to in the not too distant future.

[Slow VR]

If ur A/C is on the thermo will be on basically all the time. Confirm this.

Otherwise just live with that fact that ur car overheats for no apparent reason....

I have Series II VR. New tanks have been fitted to the Radiator, also had it flushed. Replaced the water pump, replaced the thermostat, replaced thermo fan relay as was U/S, bled all the air out of the system, using correct type cooloant, replaced both coolant sensors. Also had entire system reversed flushed and pressure tested.....

On the weekend while heading up the Kuranda Range, (a touristy drive up into the hills, nothing serious.) I had to pull over n let er cool down as the temp gauge couldnt go any further up!!!! Everytime i go up that range or load the car up hills it cooks to the max..... Otherwise in traffic or daily driving all is good.

[holden007]

Originally Posted by Slow VR

If ur A/C is on the thermo will be on basically all the time. Confirm this.

Otherwise just live with that fact that ur car overheats for no apparent reason....

I have Series II VR. New tanks have been fitted to the Radiator, also had it flushed. Replaced the water pump, replaced the thermostat, replaced thermo fan relay as was U/S, bled all the air out of the system, using correct type cooloant, replaced both coolant sensors. Also had entire system reversed flushed and pressure tested.....

On the weekend while heading up the Kuranda Range, (a touristy drive up into the hills, nothing serious.) I had to pull over n let er cool down as the temp gauge couldnt go any further up!!!! Everytime i go up that range or load the car up hills it cooks to the max..... Otherwise in traffic or daily driving all is good.

Now that doesnt sound normal.

[inwiththenew]

it's proberly not even overheating. just ya gauage is rooted. or the senders are stuffed. i had the same problem in my old vl got a guy to test it by using a infered temp gauage. sat at normal temp but but the gauage said different. so brought a aftermarket guage.

[petezor]

check to see if u have blocks, check the hoses. could be your radiator on the way out.

[Morgasshk]

Originally Posted by inwiththenew

it's proberly not even overheating. just ya gauage is rooted. or the senders are stuffed. i had the same problem in my old vl got a guy to test it by using a infered temp gauage. sat at normal temp but but the gauage said different. so brought a aftermarket guage.

I'm on board with this conclusion... Happened to me repeatedly i my VR S1 Acclaim wagon...

How soon after driving does it happen? If it's within 10 mins of driving, it is definitely the sensor's being ***t up... Car doesn't heat up that fast...

[tsalad]

the fact its happening when not moving, and your fan is working, I think would tend to indicate a radiator issue?

I doubt the guage would just decide to screw up as the car wasnt moving??

[vrberlina5sdp]

heya, had the same problem in my berlina, dam thingwould just overheat, i flushed both the radiator, and the heater coreabout 4 times, fixed the problem, hasnt over heated in over a year now!
hope it fixes it for you

[-Lewis-]

mine does something similar. irregular temp reading.
normal driving guage can range from 1/4 to 1/2. but sitting at lights, etc, it tends to jump to over 3/4. fan doesnt seem to kick in till over 3/4.
have replaced radiator and hoses, thermostat, water pump, temp sensor.
but when air con is on its all good (cos fan kicks in early) any ideas?
vs acclaim series 1 auto

[kirkson]

Ok,
I have the same problem, the fan works when the aircon is on however the fan dosent turn on when engine is hot if the aircon is off, I have replaced thermo sensor, waterpump, radiator, still no luck. I have been told by a friend of a friend of a friend that it could be the ECM, anyway a quick fix for now, I hardwired a toggle switch to the thermo fan relay so whenever the temp guage shows more than about 1/4 I flick the switch and hey presto it cools very fast so then I flick the switch off, works for me. But I will eventually find the actual cause just trial and error at this stage.
Regards kirk