Re: [doc] Steaming header!

[Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxx>]

Hi James

I'm not an expert on this at all, BUT I am surprised you had an overheating problem last weekend as it was so cold! The fan
has only kicked in on mine once since it left the garage which was when I left it idling after a long run. I say fan
(singular) because my relays are all still stock, and the fan fail light works (it comes on "for fun" according to Dave when
the AC isn't running and the rad gets hot enough). I assume my temp guage works, it does move but at the moment in this
weather resolutely stays pointing at 7-8 o'clock

I know the coolant system is prone to getting an air-lock - there's loads of stuff on the DMCnews site about it and how to
bleed the system. I have a LOT of experience with air-locks in the coolant after the cylinder head warped on my BX!

Although what Chris says is not wrong, the purpose of the fanzilla is twofold; to correct the inappropriate electrical loading
on some of the relays and to cycle the fans independently of each other and the ac compressor. The stock stuff does it all at
once which gives a sudden load to the electrical and mechancal parts of the system. I THINK the only thing actually wrong with
the stock system is the relays are underrated. I haven't looked at alternatives, but either issue 1 or 2 of the zine has an
article on how to run the fans on independent relays to at least reduce the load on the one main relay (which in turn is
underrated). It's one of my "for the future" projects. I want to get these door lock modules sorted first :-)

I've probably said that all wrong!

Martin

jamesrguk wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I drove my car from Colchester to London at the weekend, the temp
> was ok and the car ran fine for the 70 mile trip. Only problem was
> that when I stopped and put the car in the garage I looked at the
> temp gauge and it was a bit higher than normal (not in the red
> though), I stopped the engine and a couple of seconds later steam
> started pouring from the header tank area.
>
> Forutuantly I don't think any damage was done as it started fine the
> next day with no funny noises or anything.
>
> What caused this? I had my A/C on during the trip, and I turned it
> off as I was parking. Was the AC the only thing keeping the fans
> going?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Regards
>
> James RG