
Signature
Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)
Hi Keith
> It hasn't got two fans has it and only one working? Seems to be quite a
> common Pug problem to do with relays.
>From unlatching the radiator slightly and peering behind, it only
seems to have one fan.
Some more experiments: I unclipped the connector from the radiator
thermostatic switch and shorted it; the fan started up fine. And it
runs for a few minutes after the engine has stopped. I've heard it
running whilst driving but haven't determined at what temperature it
cuts in.
I've just driven around 5miles/10 minutes (A roads mostly) from
'almost cold'. The temperature gauge has just hit 110. From feeling
around the radiator, the Right Hand Side (looking from the front) of
the radiator, including the hose, is pretty hot. The middle and LHS of
the radiator are cool.
I'm wondering if the thermostat is b*ggered?
Cheers
jon N
Keith Willcocks - 01 Nov 2007 18:41 GMT
> Hi Keith
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> I'm wondering if the thermostat is b*ggered?
Does sound as if it is stuck in the closed position or not opening early
enough. I only know one way to test that. It involves removing it, a
cooker, a large saucepan and a cooks thermometer. The rest you can probably
work out for yourself. On my old Princess (the last time I had occasion
to test one) it was supposed to open as the water approached boiling,
bearing in mind it boils at a lower temperature than in the car because it
is not pressurised.
If the 306 is anything like the 406 watch out on refilling. On the 406,
because the water circulates higher than the filler cap, you have to
artificially raise the filling position. I believe plastic lemonade
bottles with their bottoms removed can be used provided that a good seal is
maintained where it enters the filler neck. You could, of course, also
stand the car on its tail ;o)

Signature
Keith Willcocks
(If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living!)
Gary G Jones - 01 Nov 2007 19:07 GMT
sounds like your thermostat is stuck closed as suggested. You could test it
using boiling water in a sauce pan , but to be honest I would just replace
it with a new one.
It could also be well worth it while you have the radiator pipes off to
blast a hose pipe through it from on side to the other and see if any crud
comes out of it, could find that half of the radiator is blocked with crud .
Best of luck, let us all know how you get on.
GGJ
> Hi Keith
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Cheers
> jon N
jkn - 02 Nov 2007 17:46 GMT
Hi Guys
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm trying to locate a new thermostat
at the moment. Unfortunately the one for the 2L XSi seems to be hard
to come by ...
I had a look at the thermostat housing. On this model at least, on top
of the housing there's a small unscrewable knob, very like the top of
a toothpaste tube (though black plastic obviously). Any clues what
this is for?
Cheers
Jon N
Bob Minchin - 02 Nov 2007 21:12 GMT
> Hi Guys
> Thanks for the suggestions. I'm trying to locate a new thermostat
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Cheers
> Jon N
Bleeding the cooling system
jkn - 05 Nov 2007 12:35 GMT
Hi Bob
> Bleeding the cooling system
Thanks - I was guessing this might be so, & now I've found the right
pages in the Haynes manual ;-)
I'm actually wondering if the problem has been an airlock in the
cooling system all along. Things have been significantly better after
I loosened and refitted the small 'toothpaste' knob. I also note that
the hose from the thermostat gets 'properly hot', indicating I think
that the thermostat is operating.
Anyway, since a new thermostat is only 12 quid or so, I think I'll get
one and drain & flush the whole system anyway. I'll let you know how I
get on.
Cheers
jon N
Chrs - 08 Nov 2007 19:18 GMT
If your in the u.k dont forget the anti freeze.you might think i do it
later but you always forget and by then its too late.