2002 1.1 cooling fan - Saxperience

Dave2254 · 21st April 2016, 10:33

Hi everyone im very new to owning a saxo and just want to ask some advice, my saxo tempreture gauge seems to go between the middle and sometimes just above. Ive noticed the cooling fan is on alot - is this normal for saxo's or is there something wrong?

Spendyrx · 21st April 2016, 11:13

Yeah fans come on every few mins when idling at normal running temp.
Just double check your coolant level

Dave2254 · 21st April 2016, 11:34

Thanks for the reply :-) it seems to use alot of coolant but i cnt find any leaks etc possible head gasket?

Spendyrx · 21st April 2016, 17:36

Have a look under your oil cap, if there's cream then it's possible the heads gone! You could look in your coolant to see if there's cream on the cap! Also at normal temp, feel the pipe that goes from the thermostat to the top of the radiator to see how hard that is, you should feel I little pressure but if it's solid then chances are the heads gone!
If all those come back clear then head inside the car, feel your carpets to see if they're wet around the middle section and feel up under where your ash tray is and get a light in there to see if you can see any drips coming from the black box! If it's wet around there then that's your matrix gone! I'd put a bet on it being that that's leaking!

Spendyrx · 21st April 2016, 17:38

Oh btw, make sure your heaters are set to hot when checking under the dash

Dave2254 · 21st April 2016, 20:17

Hi thanks for the infomation, the radiator hose is quite hard but can still be squeezed so luckly doesnt sound like the head! Ive turned all the heaters on and cnt feel any dampness around the middle or ashtry, ive just put the thermostat in a pan of hot water and it does open slowly put have ordered a new one for peice of mind

Dave2254 · 21st April 2016, 23:10

Just a quick update i've just driven 40 miles and about 7 miles into the journy the engine temp light came on but the needle stayed in the middle, so drove about 2 miles to nearest layby and took a look under the bonnet - it didnt seem to be leaking from the radiator filler cap or anywhere ovious but lots of coolent had gone! So let it cool down and drove to nearest 24 garage but all out of coolent, when i drive the car the needled sits in the middle (with temp light on) and then suddenly drops right to the bottom and gradually works its way bk to the middle. Any clues to whats going on? Had the car 7 days and really stressed out with it!!

Manu · 22nd April 2016, 05:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave2254

Any clues to whats going on?

You have a leak. Since you don't know how to deal with it, take it to a garage. If you keep driving on it like that, you'll end up with more issues.

Spendyrx · 22nd April 2016, 07:41

Check in the footwells of the car to see if they're wet! Chances are, now you've driven with no coolant it's probably damaged the head gasket!
Do as Manu says, get it to a garage asap for them to pressure test the head, that way they'll find your leak and they'll tell you from that if your headgaskets fine. If you use a local garage they'll most likely charge next to nothing to test it!

Manu · 22nd April 2016, 10:12

It's not rocket science to find a leak. Unfold a newspaper all under the engine bay, start the engine, wait 60 for seconds and look.

Besides, coolant should leave cristal deposits of the same colour wherever it leaked.

stevo67 · 22nd April 2016, 11:21

Get the coolant system pressure tested,sure fire way to find a leak.