Overheating?

My 1990 atmo has been behaving strangely recently.

First the coolant temperature warning light and stop warning light started to come on even when the engine had only been running a couple of minutes.

The last but one time I used it (40 miles), the temperature gauge ran at about 105/110 (normally 90).

Last time I used it (40 miles) it appeared to run very hot - into the amber section.

The heater works - so not a faulty thermostat?
I have bled a little air from the thermostat beed nipple (none came out of the rad bleed screw)
Doesn't seem to be any drop in coolant level or bubbles in the expansion tank.

I don't really want to drive it to the garage, for fear of overheating and damaging the engine.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

I'd start with the sensor on the water pump then if it does it straight away ( couple of minutes ) from cold start ?
Is the system pressurising more than normal ?
Just warm it up on the drive until the rad fans cut in and see what it's like .Fans should cut in about just over 90c.Fan sensor and temp gauge sender are not connected so see what the gauge says when the fans start .

Wow! Quick response, thanks.

Started car up. Coolant temperature warning light tried to come on as the key was being turned in the ignition. It went out and came back on after running for 4 minutes.

Temperature gauge fluctuated a bit as it rose (normally it rises smoothly). Indicated about 110 after about 10 min of running. Fans didn't come on, though they did when I last drove the car.

Nothing else seemed abnormal?

Sounds like the water pump sensor is dodgy or the wiring ,wiggle them and see if the light comes on .

10 mins usually not long enough for fans to kick in on the drive .Short the rad fan switch to check if fans work .If they do then reconnect and then give it some revs to get it hotter .

You need to check resistance or just swap it out for a new one .The gauge senders are readily available ,only the ECU sensor for the Turbo version is hard to get .

,only the ECU sensor for the Turbo version is hard to get .

Impossible!!!!

Ahh but there is a way round it ...In fact there where 3 of us that came up with the solution at about the same time , just you got it done first

Ahh but there is a way round it ...In fact there where 3 of us that came up with the solution at about the same time , just you got it done first

Yep!

Otherwise it may have become the most expensive garden ornament I have ever bought.

[BIG_MVS]

Wow! Quick response, thanks.

Started car up. Coolant temperature warning light tried to come on as the key was being turned in the ignition. It went out and came back on after running for 4 minutes.

Temperature gauge fluctuated a bit as it rose (normally it rises smoothly). Indicated about 110 after about 10 min of running. Fans didn't come on, though they did when I last drove the car.

Nothing else seemed abnormal?

MEMBERSHIP POLICE Alert!!

Before that vampire Simontaylor (only seems to post after midnight these days) has a go have you considered membership Mr Clark?

The temperature sender seem to go a bit faulty with age.
Mine played up, indicating a very hot engine when in fact it was only just warmed up. Swapped the sender and it seems better now.

Senders are available from you local motor factor, cost around £15 I think.

Thanks gents. Wiggled the wire around the water pump area and hey presto, coolant warning light did not come on. Temp gauge seemed to read normal too.

Haven't got round to sorting out membership. Will do this evening.

When my atmo bless her socks.was.overheating the gauge was reading a similar Very high temperature. The other thing that happens is the pressure cap blew spraying coolent all over the engine bay. I did away with the standard crap gauge and put a reasonabley priced after market one on. I would however agree with whats been said about the temp sensorin the pump.housing as very first port of call. Look.for very small bubbles in the headertank for a gasket. But i dont think its that or you.d have lost coolant at those temps.

Si21

No shit Sherlock !!
Pressure caps blowing off do tend to point to something rather amiss

All i was trying to say was that was if you have hit 110 degs on the gauge and not lost coolant then its probably a sender and gauge issue not an overheating issue :wink

But other than that elementry dear Watson evem after 6 cocktails