Overheating in traffic...

Hi

I recently got an 1983 1.8 gti.  Runs really well with the exception of sitting in traffic.  While cruising the temp needle sits in what i would deem the normal position - just before halfway on the gauge.  however when sitting in traffic it creeps up to midway on the warning bulb.  no flashing lights etc but it does concern me for when we will have the hot weather..

Not being overly mechanically minded i have not looked yet - i am thinking it could be the fan not cutting in at the correct time or at all….

Being as i have only had the car for a few days i have not had time to get into the bay and have a look (not that iw ould really know what to do either!!!)

So please feel free to post some ideas guys as to what might help…

PS - apparently it had a hole in the old expander which caused big oveheating probs understandably - since this was replaced it only gets squiffy in traffic….

I'd say firstly check that the fan is cutting in. I had same prob in mine (it overheated at the drive thru KFC) Obviously when your cruising air is being pushed through the radiator and keeping it cool.
The fan circuit is very simple only the thermoswitch, battery and the fan. To test the fan take the thermoswitch connections off and touch them together, if the fan comes on it's ok if not then that's your prob. Apparently you can test the Thermoswitch with a simple light circuit by putting the thermoswitch in a saucepan and heating it. I just checked my fan, checked the wiring and deduced it was the Thermoswitch. They only cost about ?5-6 and are easy to change although becareful when you refill the rad not to get an airlock as I did in mine and took a good few days to bleed all the air out.

welcome by the way    

richyrich said

welcome by the way    

thanks!!

Slight tangent but an oil change can help to keep engine temp down I find.

Welcome too!

Cheers
Andy

Sounds fairly normal. They all get hotter when sat still.

As long as the fan cuts in it's not a problem. Run it with the bonnet open and check. If the fan cuts in before steam comes piling out of the expansion cap then it's probably ok.

Worried me when I got my first one too!

Peter.

Thanks for the replies!

I will let her run this weekend and see if and when it cuts in.  Have not had any boiling over moments yet though!

PS - Pete, do you realise you now have 666 posts…. scary!

Yeah, 666, I would like it if I ALWAYS had that many.

Hint to Forum controller!

Peter.

If your in trouble stuck in traffic, I found that turning the fans on full heat and full power is quite effective at cooling it down.