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[Andy663]

My temperature guage goes up to the red when I drive in slow moving traffic and the low water light comes on. When I slowly release the expansion cap, some air comes out and the coolant comes back into the expansion bottle. Have I got a blockage in my radiator, or somewhere else. The water pump and thermostat were replace a few weeks ago.

[TheBoy]

Firstly, are the radiator fans coming on?

[Andy663]

Yes, once the temp gets to about 97, the fans kick in.

[sjc]

Sounds like you have an air lock but could also be a blocked rad as you have suggested.

What engine do you have?

Was this happening before the new water pump and thermostat?

[sjc]

Sorry, I see you have an MV6.

Good to see someone else from Scotland on here 

First thing I'd try is to take it for a run with the expansion bottle cap loose to see if it just needs to be bled.  Alternating the climate temp from HI to LO every few minutes often helps too.  Take a container of 50/50 water and anti-freeze with you incase you end up with low coolant once the air releases.

Same question though about its behaviour before the new pump and stat.

[martin42]

Blocked rad

[omega3000]

Blocked rad

Aye , i know all too well of the symptoms 

[Andy663]

It's a 3.0 V6. Took it on the motorway for 100 miles, no problem temp stayed at 95. As soon as I parked it up and ran on tick over the needle started to climb. I heard the fans start once the temp went over 100 this was follow by the low water warning. I switch the engine off, then restarted it the temp went down to 97, and the expansion bottle filled up. I've bought Holts 2 part rad flush, will put that in once the engine is cold. Update to follow…

[Andy663]

I've flushed the radiator and everything seems better. I took it out for a run and the temp stayed under 95, I then left it ticking over on my driveway. It took over ten minutes to get to 97, the fan kicked in and brought it back to 95. Which fans are used for the main cooling. I've noticed there are 2 at the front of the car and one at the back of the radiator. Only the offside front fan came on to cool the radiator, am I right in think both should have come on?

[Andy B]

.... Only the offside front fan came on to cool the radiator, am I right in think both should have come on?

I think I'm right in saying that the fan single behind the rad will come on when the a/c runs. The two in front of the rad should both come on either slowly or at full speed.



PS You still haven't emailed me 

[Andy663]

Hi Andy B,
I've just sent the email, let me know if you don't get it?

[Andy B]

Hi Andy B,
I've just sent the email, let me know if you don't get it?

Hi Andy. Received & replied     

[Andy663]

Thanks, got it. How do you 'ground' the terminals?

[Andy B]

Thanks, got it. How do you 'ground' the terminals?

Ground is another term for 'earth' (Yes Mark .... I know )  or negative of the battery 

[Andy663]

I'll jumper terminals 4 & 5 before grounding terminals 1 & 2 hopefully this will tell me if the fans are working.