another over heat.....thermostat?

[meek.tv]

my masons alarm gave me the unwelcome chirps this morning on the way to work. Plenty of water in there still, top hose hot bottom hose cold. Im thinking it might be a stuck thermostat?? but i dont really have a clue, havent used the van for at least a week before this morning.
I gave the thermostat housing a light tap with a hammer when i finally nursed it back to work and now the bottom hose seems to be heating up but that might be nothign to do with it :S

[wonkanoby]

how far over was gauge

and what setting is alarm on

[bigdaddycain]

my masons alarm gave me the unwelcome chirps this morning on the way to work. Plenty of water in there still, top hose hot bottom hose cold. Im thinking it might be a stuck thermostat?? but i dont really have a clue, havent used the van for at least a week before this morning.
I gave the thermostat housing a light tap with a hammer when i finally nursed it back to work and now the bottom hose seems to be heating up but that might be nothign to do with it :S

I think i'd be inclined to tweak the setting "up" a bit if everything else seems to be in order... Perhaps you were driving a bit harder than usual? I find my temp climbs (mason fitted) on mine if i'm going up even a slight incline when the gearbox is "just" in lock -up... The engine is labouring slightly then you see, so is working harder.

[meek.tv]

ive got it set up so that if i give it some pedal up the hills i get a small chirp, this was a bit further more than usual and whilst idling in traffic. at the time of the chirpage i pulled over and the bottom hose wasnt hot.
i let it cool, took it easy to work and it happened once more on the way. i stopped again, waited and bottom hose was still cold.
got to work ok. gave all the hoses a good squeeze and bumped the thermostat housing with a light hammer blow and now the bottom hose is heating up and no overheating (only at idle with a few revs)
will try and give it a short run at lunch time and see if its ok :S

[missfixit70]

As asked already, how far over was the needle? I must admit, if i had any doubts regarding the stat I'd be inclined to change it asap.

[meek.tv]

what an arse. went for a spin and all seemed fine, got back into work to find i forgot to replace the expansion tank cap
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh
will i be likely to get one in a motorfactors?

[Rhod]

I was getting a higher than normal reading on the Mason damped gauge last winter & the rad was running cold. A few taps to the thermostat cured it - but I'll be replacing the stat when I do my pre-winter flush & drain of the system.

So - yes, it could well be your stat that is at fault, going on my experience.

[meek.tv]

updated here http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 87#p339387
hose with a leak....might this have been the problem all along (obviously it wasnt the cause for me not replacing the expansion tank cap)