1994 C180 Running Temperature

[JONRW]

I'm looking for some help please, I have a 1994 C180 and when I bought it about a year ago I found myself topping the radiator water up as the indicating light kept coming on. I later noticed that the radiator cap had perrished and replacement sorted that out, but I still find that if I'm stuck in traffic for any length of time the gauge slowly starts to rise. My gauge is always at just over the 80 mark until caught in traffic. I always then find myself with wide open eyes hoping nothing untoward happens !
Luckily I have always gotten through traffic and picking up speed makes the gauge return to the just over 80 mark.

Maybe I just need to ensure the correct coolant mix is being used ?
Maybe this is normal and I need not worry ?

Any help / advice appreciated.

Thanks.... JON

 

[television]

You do not have any problems, The thermo fan does not cut in below 85c
and an electric, if you have one 100c.

Malcolm

 

[JONRW]

Thats fantastic news, thank you. Maybe I'll leave it running, when arrived from a long drive home from work, to make sure the fans kick in !?!?

 

[C220GJS]

I think you will find that your car has a viscous fan coupling and if it is overheating when stationary the coupling has failed and will need to be replaced. The coupling is about £70 from Eurocarparts and takes about an hour to fit .
Geo.

 

[JONRW]

Cheers Geo, thats another avenue to investigate I guess !
If you have a moment can you please explain what the "viscous fan coupling" actually is ?

Ta... JON

 

[C220GJS]

Jon,
The viscous fan coupling is a fluid clutch which is mounted between your engine cooling fan and the water pump spindle .
When your engine is cold and the air being drawn through the radiator is cold this coupling allows the fan to spin freely, but as the engine heats up and the air being drawn through the radiator becomes warmer the coupling gradually locks up and increases the fan speed to cool the water flowing through the radiator and in the case of your engine ,maintain a temp. of 85c.
If you look at your cooling fan the coupling is the finned aluminium disc which the fan is bolted to.
Hope this explains it adequately for you.
Geo.

 

[television]

In order to test your visco coupling, it is said that when the engine reaches 85c, the fan should be able to slice a carrot. Mind you r fingers, and use a large carrot.

Malcolm

 

[davidsl500]

Or a small carrot on a stick - but mind the donkeys..

 

[JONRW]

OK - So I've been out and started the car today with the bonnet open, the big plastic fan (which I now assume to be referred to as the viscous fan) behind the radiator is spinning round straight away - I thought that the fan would only start when the radiator/engine got too hot !?!

So, do I push a carrot against that fan now, or when the temperature gauge says just over the usual 80 degrees mark, does it make any difference ? And I guess that if the carrot stops the fan, its knackered and if the carrot gets sliced its OK ?

Thanks for your input all - I'm such a novice/junior member, does it show !

 

[Richard Moakes]

It will be spinning, just not at full speed, the viscous coupling will be slipping, as it is supposed to do when cold.

When the air warms up it will start to spin at full speed, and you will hear a roaring noise from the front of the car when accelerating.

Never tried the carrot trick ! So can't comment if it works, but if you open the bonnet with the engine cold and running, and then turn off the engine, you should see the fan continue to spin for a few seconds.

Richard

 

[JONRW]

Cheers Richard, I will try that in the morning and revert back. Will that mean that it is not seized if it still spins when the engine turned off... ?!?!

 

[Richard Moakes]

Yes that will mean it isn't seized, but it won't tell you if it will lock up when the temperature warms up.

Once my gauge gets to about 90, I can hear it roar like a turbine when I step on the gas, you can't miss it.

They do go as they get older, I would look at www.gsfcarparts.com or www.eurocarparts.com for prices.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[C220GJS]

If you are removing the fan ,the large nut which holds it on to the water pump spindle is a left hand thread.

 

[JONRW]

I tried it when the engine was cold and yes, the fan spins freely when the ignition is switched off.

So, I guess the next step is to get the temperature up to just over the 80 mark and get a carrot to the ready right !?!

I'm not anywhere near qualified to change this part, I'd end up in a right old mess. I need to find a garage that will be honest with me I think, what'd ya think the chances of that are !!!

 

[C220GJS]

If you find it is faulty try this sight for recommended MB specialists,although any competent garage could do the job if you have one you trust.What area are you in ? http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=13.
Cheers Geo.

 

[JONRW]

I live in Gravesend, Kent and my office is in Romford, Essex - so a local garage to my work would be best if they can get the job done in a day.

 

[television]

Hang on you may not have a fault, 90c is fine, and the temp gauge will go up and down slightly as the temp changes.

Malcolm

 

[paresh21272]

i have an identical problem it got to 110*C and the fan never kicked in. i already change the temp sensor cut cut in at 98oC
any assistance please

 

[television]

i have an identical problem it got to 110*C and the fan never kicked in. i already change the temp sensor cut cut in at 98oC
any assistance please

To test the fan, just join the two wires together on the sensor and the fan should run with the ignition turned on.


Malcolm

 

[paresh21272]

running temp

over the weekend i changed the viscous coupler and guess what my temp goes nowhere near the 100 marker it used to sit on before.
i found out that the fan spins in 2 speeds and mine only ran at the slow speed
cheers team job well done
i am now looking forward to summer
paresh