Interesting Overheating Problem Sorted!

[fifty pence]

OK, Head gasket replaced (MLS), while I was at it I replaced the w/pump,cam belt, tensioner, removed the thermostat someone had mistakenly fitted due to having a PRT stat and removed the ball bearing in the inlet manifold.
Anyway all back together, cooling system bled(several times), comes up to tempreture but the cooling fan will not stop(a/c off) but temp gauge stays in the middle until you drive it then it goes up and down like a yo-yo into the red and back to normal.

So today I removed the PRT stat and filled it with boiling water and sure enough it opened, it was a bit grubby so I gave it a clean and noticed the word "PUMP" on one of the outlets so back under the car and re-fitted as it came off and noticed the pump outlet was actually going to the rad hose so I swapped them around and hey presto the overheating problem is now fixed.

Thanks to Willyheckaslike I found the stat fitted where it should have not been! and now I have re-fitted the PRT stat correctly I've done about 50 miles since and not a hint of a problem so tomorrow I'm going to treat it to 50% OAT antifreeze.

[WillyHeckaslike]

Interesting, never heard of the PRT being wrongly connected before but I guess it is possible. This is the layout for the PRT Cick Image is for non turbo but the PRT is connected the same. Thanks for the mention and pleased it is now running properly.

[chrissyboy]

how on earth did they do that ? the hose"s will just about fit to where they are suppose to go ... are you the guy that had a stat fitted by a garage and they fitted it where the dummy stat goes ???? if i would ake the bill for the repair down to them and demand payment .....

[fifty pence]

Originally Posted by chrissyboy

how on earth did they do that ? the hose"s will just about fit to where they are suppose to go ... are you the guy that had a stat fitted by a garage and they fitted it where the dummy stat goes ???? if i would ake the bill for the repair down to them and demand payment .....

Looking at it, it's not that difficult!
I recently purchased the car with HGF and they'd had enough as it wasn't the first time and I'm not suprised after what I found, from what I can gather I think the "mechanic" who had fixed it had done the correct job of the head gasket and thought he was doing the right thing by fitting a new stat in the housing and I'm guessing it kept overheating with the two stats and in desperation had either incorrectly fitted the PRT stat or tried swapping the hoses thinking he'd incorrectly fitted it making a bad job worse!

[T-Cut]

Fitting a standard thermostat element in the usual housing, when there's a PRT system in place is becoming more common and illustrates how many garages have no understanding of the K16 engine developments. Of course adding a second stat when there's already one in place leads to rapid overheating and potential repeated HGF. These upper stats are usually fitted when a 1.8 goes in for head work. The 'mechanics' must assume the old stat had been removed to improve cooling. One has to wonder why they don't ask someone why the stat had had the valve and capsule removed, rather than blindly putting the engine in jeopardy.

TC

[chrissyboy]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

Fitting a standard thermostat element in the usual housing, when there's a PRT system in place is becoming more common and illustrates how many garages have no understanding of the K16 engine developments. Of course adding a second stat when there's already one in place leads to rapid overheating and potential repeated HGF. These upper stats are usually fitted when a 1.8 goes in for head work. The 'mechanics' must assume the old stat had been removed to improve cooling. One has to wonder why they don't ask someone why the stat had had the valve and capsule removed, rather than blindly putting the engine in jeopardy.

TC

a good mechanic never assumes tc he re searches it if he isnt sure . if you do something on your car that your not too sure of , do you not look up info on it first ? just as a good mechanic would do ... i taught myself how to repair motor scooters in ths way as my son was costing me a fortune with his first bike in and out of the repair shop

[T-Cut]

As I say, there are regular reports of overheating K16s due to a standard stat being inserted when a PRT is present. I doubt that many owners fit them, so I have to assume that garages do it. There are mechanics and there are 'mechanics'.

TC