water pump, thermostat, rad., and hose replacement.

[Ian Milne]

Just read a post and sounds like my problem, ie, I've just discovered my bottom hose is not warm after the engine has been running for +5 mins. The fan/s don't opperate (that was my first problem) and I'm now thinking I've another problem of the thermostat not opening or the water pump not pumping. Me thinks I'd better get another thermostat, top/bottom hoses and at the same time replace the cam belt, tensioner and water pump.
Can anybody tell me where the fan/s relay is or what causes this relay to opperate and where it is?
Also, havng replaced the rad., hoses, pump, thermostat and cam belt, what is the proceedure of bleeding the coolant system?
Cheers, Ian.

[brorabongo]

It's worth spending some time checking all coolant threads. It will take a good while.

I would say around 5 minutes is not enough to heat the system, so that it's all in play. I have read on here that even after a long run the bottom hose is only found to be warm, not hot.

AFAIK rads fans won't come on unless system begins to get too hot? Theres no point running the fans when the system is working well.

On a previous car, I tried the idle till engine gets upto temperature, and the fans never came on. Took the car for a good run then when I stopped and left it idling again, I could hear the fans running, for a short while.

[bigdaddycain]

Hi Ian, the thermostat on the bongo should open at 82 degrees,if it doesn't, then your bottom hose will remain cold, as the coolant isnt circulating the system fully.

A check on a bongo thermostat today revealed that an apparently new (ish) stat only opened fully at a constant 100 degrees,then quite quickly closed again as the temperature dropped slightly.

So that stat needs replacing.

The bongo does take an age to reach full operating temperature.

I'd replace the stat,re-bleed, then see if the fans kick in when fully warm....