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MG MGF Technical - Water Temperature going Hot

Hello everybody,

i have a 1997 MGF and noticed that when i am in traffic for about 5-10 minutes the water temperature goes hot but when the car is moving the temperature goes normal again. Today, i filled the water tank to MAX and started the engine. After a while the temperature showed normal and then the engine fan switched on. After that the temperature was going hot again. What might be the problem with the cooling system? Please help me because i might forget once to see the temperature and burn the engine.

Thank you very much,
Mario
Mario MGF

Mario, check the condition of the radiator, more than likely badly corroded. If you need a new one then look at fitting an alloy type as I am sure you will see high ambient temperatures in the summer.If you are loosing coolant then you need to investigate where it is going to. HTH.
mike.
mike

You also need to make sure that your radiator fan is working. Have a look at.....

http://www.apttony.co.uk/Servicing/RadiatorFan.html
Tony

Either as mike says, or you have air trapped in the rad.

Go to the front of the car, open the bonnet

on the slam panel you will see a square hole and in the panel hole you will see a black plastic bolt. open this bolt with the expansion tank cap off, close the bolt when coolant flows out (not too tight), now top up the coolant.
Will Munns

Thank you very much guys. I will try what you suggested and i will get back to you.

Marios
Mario MGF

Mario, I am inclined to agree with Tony - the radiator fan is not coming on as it should. The two commonest causes are a faulty ECU water temperature sender or a blown fuse for the radiator fan.

In addition to the excellent links above, see here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/hgf_pages/related_problems_overheating.htm
Rob Bell

Sorry I missed the engine fan comming on but not the rad fan, Even so I would expect you to have to leave the engine for idleing for 10 mins from cold before you start to see the temp creap, this time will be dramaticly shortened if you have air in the rad.
Will Munns

Agreed Will - but the rate of temperature rise will also be dependent on how hot the engine was prior to becoming snarled up in traffic.
Rob Bell

I see a slight climb after about 2 mins in this weather (pulling off motorway to a stop), but on the F you wouldn't see this till it overheated some long time later. Of course Greece does not heve 'this weather' - I was assuming from the description that the car was cold.
You shouldn't put water in the expansion tank uness the engine is cold.
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 08/03/2005 and 09/03/2005

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