possible problem with the cooling system?

[ross5840]

Hi i am new to this forum so just like to say hello and i have my first question already.

I have a 1.2 SXi (S reg) and it has been sitting in my garage for a few month as i have been out of work so unable to afford to run it.
The problem i have is i fitted a new thermostat and put a litre of antifreeze and a litre of water into the expansion bottle until it was full, i started the car and had it running for about 45 mins and the temperature gauge just managed to reach 90 degrees after all that time, thinking that the fluid in the expansion bottle would go down it didnt, the pipe leading the radiator was hot but the radiator wasnt, also the fan did not kick in. The car gets lovely and warm inside and all heaters work properly. Is this normal for it to be this way?

Any help woould be appreciated,
Thanks Ross.

[paul24685]

hi mate might be wrong if iam someone will correct it lol. but sound like the same symtoms you would get from a jammed open stat or maybe when you fit it it wasnt a tight seal did you put rubber seal round new stat. just asking as i got one lastweek from vaux parts and the dude was convinced there was not meant to be a rubber seal with it to he checked with mechanic lol. as i said if im wrong someone will put u right lol gd luck;)

[octane41]

if you buy a thermostat from vaux you have to buy the rubber seal seperately which is rediculous.

you can whip the stat off and test it in a pan of water and check its opening and closing properly, but to be honest i dont think there will be anything wrong with it.

i've had quite a bit of experience with these engines, and they do run at just over 90.

also you could try turning engine on when its cooled, and hold the pipe coming from stat and it should stay cold then warm up quickly when stat opens. if it warms slowly and gradually then the stat is jammed open.

also mate the fan will not kick in till it gets over 95 i believe - and of the heaters are working well then there is no air lock to worry about.

[ross5840]

what about the fluid not going down in the expansion bottle, thats the part i am worried about.

surely this should drop down once the stat opens?

[octane41]

theres nothing wrong with it. if the stat wasny opening it would overheat.

if you start the car up with the heaters on it will take a while to warm up.

i'd start to worry if it overheats or empties its coolant onto your garage floor.