2.3 Overheating On Idle Part Ii

[jimjamjo]

Hi

 

I recently bought a 2.3 Mk1 Galaxy. The temperature is fine (middle of NORM) except when idling. It starts creeping up on idle - up to the M mark on the gauge - but goes back to normal as soon as you rev it up.

 

In my last post, I fitted a new water pump but this hasn't made any difference.

 

Any ideas?

[Stevoo]

I have a 2.3 as well and get same sort of problem. in traffic on warm day with no aircon on guage goes to m and the fans do kick in but doesnt seem to bring temp right back down. if i switch aircon on both fans spin and brings temp back down. I think it maybe my thermostate and/or temp switch.

 

I will change thermostate and see how mine goes. what mileage is yours on? mines 82k and will prob need new water pump soon anyway.

[jimjamjo]

Hi Stevoo

 

Wouldn't worry about the pump - as I put in my other post, the one I took out looked and felt in vgc. My Gal has done 60k. I had a diesel Gal before that I covered 167k with the same pump and that was a nasty one with plastic fins.

 

 

I've been hunting the forum for similar problems and this post in March seems to be identical but theres no outcome.

[seatkid]

Isn't it normal for petrol engines to creep up in temperature when idling? (esp in summer) So long as it comes down when the fan cuts in thats OK. Don't know how big the NORM on the gauge is but I guess that N to M only is about 10 deg at most.

 

If you are convinced there is a problem, then it could be your radiator is a little clogged up or it could be the thermostat isnt fully opening. (Jimjamo - Did you change the thermostat with the pump?)

 

BTW if you did a little bit more searching you will find the "failing water pump problem" is restricted to VW engines - they are the ones with a plastic impeller. The Ford engines (2.0/2.3 litres) don't have the problem.

[jimjamjo]

Thanks for the post SK. I had a new company 2.3 Scorpio back in the nineties and the gauge used to be pretty steady in traffic.

 

Its obviously bugging people as theres some posts on the subject and I'm not getting any confidence watching it creep up the gauge with no sign of settling back down.

 

I think I've picked up the wrong thermostat as the one on the car appears to be in a sealed canister at a t-junction in 3 pipes.

 

The waterpump was a bummer as it was a few hours fiddling around with bits of delicate plastic - the joys of modern car mechanics :blink:

[jimjamjo]

I've just spent 1/2 hour monitoring it. At idle, the temperature runs from the middle of the 'R' up to the start of the 'M'. At this point the fans kick in and the temperature drops back down again to the middle of the 'R'. It's not that hot today plus the bonnet was up.

 

I can't see how you could check the radiator for hot-spots as the oil cooler is bolted in front of it and the twin fans are behind it.

 

My gut feeling is that the engine is running a bit too hot due to a blockage somewhere or the thermostat only partially opening.

 

I rang frauds and quickco for a thermostat. They both quoted for a thermostat saying that it can be fitted inside the canister but the Haynes says that the 1998 onwards 2.3 has a sealed canister tht must be renewed as a single unit?

 

Also, I've got a feeling that the previous owner knew there was a problem - he had just spent

Edited July 7, 2007 by jimjamjo

[chromedome]

In my opinion everything is ok. Most petrol engined cars temperature creep up quite high on idle but quickly drop when the engine speed increases or the cooling fans kick in. Remember on idle the coolant hardly moves around the system and there is effectively no cooling done. When you rev up or the fans kick in things will begin to cool down again. I honestly don't think there is anything wrong.

[Guest wolfie]

your picture does show the thermostat!

[seatkid]

Theres nowt wrong!!!!........moving from middle of R to start of M is minimal! and far less than I would expect. My Diesel will move its needle more when idling a long time.....

[Scorpiorefugee]

I agree with Seatkid. Any engine left at tickover with nothing to force air through the rad will tend to overheat. It may well be that the cooling system is not as efficient as it once was but, given the fact that the Galaxy engine compartment has a pretty well covered bottom area and a whole lot of gubbinry around and in front of the rad, I should expect it to heat up pretty quickly if you're not moving, especially with the near tropical temperatures we've been having lately.

 

I know that it is a bit worrying to see the temperature gauge creeping up but, if it stays out of the red, I should not worry. The only misleading bit it is that I have never found two temperature gauges that agree.

[jimjamjo]

Thanks for the collective consensus but I'm still pressing on with it because old parts tend to wear out and I'm sure that it wouldn't have left the showroom with a creeping gauge.

 

I've flushed the engine and rad today but both did seem to be in remarkable condition with fresh water coming out almost instantly. I don't have faith in the 7 year old thermostat though so will be shopping for one on Monday. I cooked it up earlier and did seem to be opening although not massively.

[mumble_bee]

tbh, if it aint broke, dont fix it..

[Stevoo]

tbh, if it aint broke, dont fix it..

 

HAHA fords are allways breaking :D

 

Im gonna change thermostate to be on safe side. plus flush water in system.

[jimjamjo]

Fitted the replacement thermostat and................ nothings changed! Absolutely, nothing.

 

Pause for mickytakers to gather their thoughts....

 

 

Just looks like this is normal behaviour for the 2.3. I also received a post today from dp_essex who had identical symptoms for 4 years with his Galaxy and never overheated. His stealer put it down to an oversensitive temp gauge in the instrument cluster.

 

I'm glad that I did the job as it's the only concern I had with the Gal since buying it last month. I'm sure there will be other 2.3 owners who will get some reassurance from this post and not have to go through the same process of elimination.

 

Attached pic of the replacement thermostat which is in a plastic housing. It's a VW part and would be cheaper from VW if you have the part no which is visible in the pic.

Edited July 10, 2007 by jimjamjo

[Illarion]

Please, advise about the part number of original termostate.

Is 97VW-8575-AA is a full number?

Is any thing written on other side of the thermostat?

[sparky Paul]

I can't remember anything else stamped into the old type thermostat, but if it's any help, the VW part number on the new thermostat is 7M5 121 115, and it has the VW logo on it. Ford part no is 1125023.

 

It's worth noting that the standard thermostat housing is still present on models fitted with this external thermostat, but there is nothing fitted in it.

Edited December 2, 2010 by sparky Paul

[Illarion]

Thank you for information.

 

Dealer said the 97VW-8575-AA is a US mark.