Weird Cooling Problem - D2 (2001) V8

HI Folks, I have recently purchased another Disco. I have owned these in the past as well as Rangie, so know the marque quite well, or I thought I did.

Ive just purchased through a dealer a 2001 (Y) reg 3.9 V8. Everything seems ok with it and I was kinda half expecting a few things to have to sort out on her. Im a fussy fastidious git

The previous owner has recently had the (1) rad re-cored, and (2) new water pump fitted. On the drive back to my house without stopping, a distance of around 60 miles, all was well and normal with the engine temp. Needle sitting firmly in the middle band of the temp gauge and air blowing hot on the cabin heater. However, when I stopped outside my house, my neighbour was stood outside and we were talking (5 mins or so) while I left it running. When I got back in the heater was blowing cold and the temp needle was literally level with the bottom edge of the red block in the gauge and the light was on showing high temp.

I switched it off, checked the levels etc and all was ok. Nothing evident to suggest anything amiss. I then drove the vehicle down the road, and in doing so the temp immediately started to fall on the gauge to the middle mark again and the heater started blowing hot again. I pulled over and idled it for a 5 min period, and it all went cold again and temp increased.

Any ideas? Im wondering if its heater matrix or worse. I cant see any milk in the oil filler cap and the header tank looks clean. Weird !! :doh:

hmmmmmmmmmmmm If you just bought it get them to sort it

fanatic said:

hmmmmmmmmmmmm If you just bought it get them to sort it

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I second that thought, it will otherwise be a potentially expensive exercise. I think you have seven days/warranty period in which to get it back to them. hand it back until it is 100%

As my signature consumer direct, and it's 6 months statutory depending on circumstances-phone them up it's free

I was going to take it back. I have been in contact with him, but I just wanted a little ammunition to throw at him, instead of the usual dealer trick of flanneling the customer with any old crap.

He seems to think its the heater matrix, but surely that would not affect the engine temp? Unless of course its blocked or has an airlock in it.

Your thoughts please

understand without looking at it,
I reckon it is possibly head gasket/liner leaking exhaust gas and stopping heater working.
Several diesels that have had head/head gasket faults the heater stopped working intermittently.
Exhaust gas in coolant will cause air locks.
small water pipes on radiator and inlet manifold do cause issues if blocked

I suggest that you make sure there are no copper flakes in coolant (K seal).
Phone Consumer Direct and get their guidance.
Sale of goods act your entitled to
satisfactory quality and fit for purpose
the dealer has the option to
repair,replace or refund you.

Armed with this knowlege and a template letter from consumer direct in your pocket-approach the dealer in a polite pleasant manner
(hopefully he will just want to earn a living and get it sorted) any messing give him the letter.

when you get it back-make sure there are no copper flecks in water (ie no k seal)

HI, thanks for the advice. Im well aware of SOGA and Implied Terms etc. Its a petrol not diesel, but I am getting him to investigate it. I may well take it to an independant locally to me prior to handing it over to the dealer and get them to do a head gasket check, even if I pay for that, I know where I stand. If it IS head gasket at least im going to know before he gets the vehicle handed back and starts feeding me bull****.

wiltshireflyer said:

HI, thanks for the advice. Im well aware of SOGA and Implied Terms etc. Its a petrol not diesel, but I am getting him to investigate it. I may well take it to an independant locally to me prior to handing it over to the dealer and get them to do a head gasket check, even if I pay for that, I know where I stand. If it IS head gasket at least im going to know before he gets the vehicle handed back and starts feeding me bull****.

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I'm aware it's not a diesel too, but combustion gases are known to cause heater issues on diso's
The most reliable way is gas analyser probe in engine bay- start engine and note HC with header tank open hold probe above it-if HC jump then you have Head Gasket or Liner issue.

Just a thought:

There is a small bleed pipe that runs across the top of the radiator underneath the fan guard, and that ends up in the header tank, exiting through a very thin stainless steel needle affair.

It appears to exist to bleed air out of the top of the radiator core, as it is obviously very restricted on flow by the size of the needle orifice.

You can see the needle if you look inside the header tank filler next.

If that is blocked, any air buildup will not be cleared and potentially would cause an air lock.

Ours was block with stopleak granules and we had to use 120psi to blow them out of the needle.

When you fill up after a bit of work on the engine, you can see the bubbles coming out of the tip of the needle.

Peter

listerdiesel said:

Just a thought:

There is a small bleed pipe that runs across the top of the radiator underneath the fan guard, and that ends up in the header tank, exiting through a very thin stainless steel needle affair.

It appears to exist to bleed air out of the top of the radiator core, as it is obviously very restricted on flow by the size of the needle orifice.

You can see the needle if you look inside the header tank filler next.

If that is blocked, any air buildup will not be cleared and potentially would cause an air lock.

Ours was block with stopleak granules and we had to use 120psi to blow them out of the needle.

When you fill up after a bit of work on the engine, you can see the bubbles coming out of the tip of the needle.

Peter

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Thanks for the input there Peter, I will have a look at that in the morning when its light.