230TE fan?

[3ColliesMercandRangie]

Hi,
Back again for a bit of advice sooner than I expected!
I've just had a call from my missus and friend who are away for the weekend in the 230TE plus small caravan. 70 mile journey just completed, limited to 50mph on hilly North pennine roads
She tells me that the temp guage was at times approaching the red (Stainmore) and the bonnet was "steaming" (her words!) as rain fell on it.
I suspect that the fan was not cutting in as it should and as there would probably not be enough forward motion to provide enough airflow to cool the engine it overheated slightly.
So...I've advised her to check the coolant level in the morning when's it's cool and ring me and also to have the heater & fan full on for her return journey on Sunday. Would you agree with my long distance diagnosis and Is there any other advice I could give her?
The car is a 1989 model and the fan is very free to turn when the engine is off. There's no resistance at all as there is from my Range Rover viscous fan. So am I correct in assuming it'll be the magnetic clutch type fan?

Thanks in advance,

Bob

 

[television]

Hi,
Back again for a bit of advice sooner than I expected!
I've just had a call from my missus and friend who are away for the weekend in the 230TE plus small caravan. 70 mile journey just completed, limited to 50mph on hilly North pennine roads
She tells me that the temp guage was at times approaching the red (Stainmore) and the bonnet was "steaming" (her words!) as rain fell on it.
I suspect that the fan was not cutting in as it should and as there would probably not be enough forward motion to provide enough airflow to cool the engine it overheated slightly.
So...I've advised her to check the coolant level in the morning when's it's cool and ring me and also to have the heater & fan full on for her return journey on Sunday. Would you agree with my long distance diagnosis and Is there any other advice I could give her?
The car is a 1989 model and the fan is very free to turn when the engine is off. There's no resistance at all as there is from my Range Rover viscous fan. So am I correct in assuming it'll be the magnetic clutch type fan?

Thanks in advance,

Bob

On the return journey after a long climb or hill, why not stop and look to see if the fan is running, it normally goes fast enough to make a roar, if you have a spare carrot, do the carrot test.

malcolm

 

[turnipsock]

I think it will be the magnetic fan.

Towing a load up a hill will cause the temperature to increase.

 

[3ColliesMercandRangie]

Thanks , sounds as if my diagnosis might be correct. Carrot test is a good idea except it's my missus and friend who'll be driving, I'm sitting here at home miles away. I dread to think what they'd say if I even suggested it! They'd think I'd gone mad. I envisage at least 15 mangled fingers if they tried! I'll give it a once over when they get home on Sunday.
Thanks for all your help. As I always tell her, and at the risk of sounding sexist (some) women and machinery are a dangerous combination!

 

[Blobcat]

Thanks for all your help. As I always tell her, and at the risk of sounding sexist (some) women and machinery are a dangerous combination!

I always thought it was women and credit cards....

 

[turnipsock]

Carrot test is a good idea

...not if it is a magnetic fan.

When a car is moving at a reasonable speed, the fan makes little difference as it doesn't increase the air flow through the radiator.

However, you can increase the cooling efficiency by turning on the heater to full hot and cranking up the blower. You might want to open the windows as well.

 

[3ColliesMercandRangie]

Credit cards? Nooooo! don't go there...please!

 

[TimN]

The magnetic fans are almost indestructable, however the temporature sensors that control them are not.

 

[Jay Kilby]

sounds like the clutch is not engaging, the temp would rise going up hill but not to max. until she gets home adive her when the temp starts to rise open the window and stick the heating full on. but i would say only on the climbs. on those slow climbs the fan engages and sucks the hot air away from the radiator and pulls cooler air through at the same time. this is why sticking the heater on works water passes through the matrix the blower sucks hot air off it, bit like a heat exchanger. when she gets back replace it, or get a kenlow electric conversion.

good luck

 

[3ColliesMercandRangie]

Update, Her return journey was fine, no overheating at all! Tried the carrot test yesterday and the fan/clutch/sensor are all working fine. Quite a spectaculer test...you didn't mention that I'd get sprayed with carrot puree!
Apparently while she was away a helpful soul had unplugged and replaced the sensor plug to check it out so possibly dirty/intermittent connection? I'll meter it out when I've some spare time. The caravan has now gone away to it's winter abode so there's no rush until next spring.
Thanks for everyone's help with this.
Bob

 

[television]

there's no rush until next spring.

Bob

When you find its still 28c in November, you will be off again.

Malcolm

 

[MW]

It is easy to see if the magnetic fan engages. As the temp rises the very slowly turning (by drag) fan will suddenly drive around 'locked' to the engine speed. When reved, the fan will roar away, (you can hear a muted version of this inside the car), and vast amounts of heat will travel backwards across the engine. The amount of heat it removes is very impressive. After about 20 seconds of fastish engine tickover (say 1,300 revs) the temp guage will fall.
Best to keep fingers etc out of the way.