Long time since I visited the forum, still look in occasionally from afar ( NZ ) , I have always thought that the electric radiator fans come in very late ever since I have had my car ( over 10 years now ) . They cut in according to the gauge at around 98-99deg and then cut back off at around 95 . The car is always generally up in the 90's especially in traffic. Is this normal? I would have thought this to be cutting things a little fine , and have more concerns now that I am in a hotter climate !
Appreciate it if any other spider owners could let me know how theirs behave.
Has never boiled and I don't know how accurate the VDO gauge actually is? But it just makes me nervous watching the temp hover at an indicated boiling point all too often.
the spider should run around 85- 90 degrees no hotter, if the fans aren't cutting in early enough check the thermostat, as you're in a hotter climate than Europe I suggest you change the thermostat for one which cuts in earlier, as the rad is good enough to keep the engine cool, I use a standard rad on a car running a meg turbo engine with no issues and that produces a lot more heat than a standard spider engine.
Thanks , I will search out a lower temp range thermostat. How easy is it to get to the stat? Assume it to be radiator mounted?
Thanks for reply Andy - there are now 5 spiders here basically all brought out here with their owners. 3 RHD all yellow and 2 LHD , one from Germany and one brought crashed out of Japan and repaired here , one yellow and one blue .
I think I would change the Rad switch as well. If you think the fans are coming on too late, they are controlled by that switch. The switches are not expensive so to be on the safe side, change, making sure it is the correct temperature rated one as OE.
1990 GTA Atmo, 2003 Jaguar X type 2.5SE Auto, 2018 Kia Picanto GT-Line-S 1.25