URGENT!!!! Chandeg Thermostat, Can't seem to fill Coolant

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:24 pm

I changed the thermostat, and have started putting the coolant back in.
The reservoir is up to the line, but there does not seem to be any water in the radiator or pipes.
None coming out of bleed screw, and nothing going anywhere...

Any CLUES?/??@????+/

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:27 pm

Have you tried squeezing the top hose to try and 'pull' the coolant through?

There's a handy M20 servicing page in Tech Articles which covers thermostat/coolant changing quite well.

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 1:35 pm

Yep, Tried squeezing top pipe, I put some more coolant in, it started going through but stopped again.

If I start the car, knowing there is no water in the rad, will it ppush through? I assume I would need to open the bleed screw.

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:07 pm

Fill the coolant tank yo the top for a start.
If it's a set up with the seperate header tank on the inner wing, pull thr little overflow tube back through it's hole in the inner wing, put your hand flat across the top of the filler neck, and blow into the end of the tube.
Just had another thought - check that the vent pipe between the top of the rad and the coolant tank is not blocked.

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:37 pm

Cheerws guys, just had another go, filled the tank to the top and... Bubble Bubble Bubble, water stqarted slowly draining through.

Filled and ran for 10 mins, opened bleed screw and some bubbly water escaped and then it ran through water only.

I am just going to take it for a run.

After ten minutes running, the heater was working much better, but it didn't wuite reach the first marker after the blue section of the Temp guage.

I was going to change the blue temp sensor as economy has been bad recently but couildn't get the sensor out!

Post Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:07 pm

Just got back from a 20 mile drive, some town some motorway.
By the time I had driven 1 mile, the temp gauge was out of the blue.

Then it got over the first mark and settled between the first and middle mark.

I have never seen it this high, highest during summer last year was on the first mark.

It didn't get to the half way mark, but the heaters were working in the manner I would expect, ie. on full heat, they were very hot.

I stopped halfway and tried the bleed scrfew again, water came out as expected. Drove home with no problems Problem sorted!!!