Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 354 Location: the Netherlands
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject: Gearbox ratios and water pump
Hi,
I've got this problem that my beetle will switch on the fan after 10 kilometers of driving at 80 km/h, and it won't go off anymore. And the temp will slowly climb to 100 degrees.
Now, I have a low geared AT gearbox in my beetle, because it is a "S" model with a 1600 engine, originally.
I've compared the gear ratios with those of the original car (Alfa Romeo 33 1.4), and my gearbox is geared a lot lower. See this link for the comparisons.
This lower gearing will run the waterpump at slower speed at 80 km/h then in the original car. Could this cause the engine to run hotter?
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2527 Location: Mudway, Kent
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject:
Questions:
1/ Is your rad getting hot?
2/ How have you triggered your fan?
3/ Is the gauge sensor near the fan sensor? _________________ The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.
'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more
Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"
Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 354 Location: the Netherlands
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:00 am Post subject:
ElusiveStranger wrote:
1/ Is your rad getting hot?
I believe so, otherwise the fan wouldn't come on.
ElusiveStranger wrote:
2/ How have you triggered your fan?
With the original temp switch, which is screwed into the radiator.
ElusiveStranger wrote:
3/ Is the gauge sensor near the fan sensor?
Hmmm....sort off... the fan sensor is in the bottom right of the radiator, and the temp sensor is on the right front side of the manifold (through which coolant flows). It could be that the sensors are influenced by hot air coming from the radiator.
But I think I know what you are getting at. You think that the thermostat is bad? I suspect it too. I am going to replace it with a new one, just to be sure. _________________ homepage
VolksRomeo 13033 S 1.4 IE (VW 1303 S with Alfa Romeo 33 1.4 IE engine)
_________________
just checked out your homepage for more info on your conversion ,
looks to me that you have an air flow problem over the rad , the fans dont do enough at higher speeds , put the rad temporary on the rear of the car in the airflow a bit like a whale tail . and see what she does.
Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 878 Location: Tyne & Wear
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:44 am Post subject:
I agree with Caddy and Ricola, you need to move your rad to a better location for max airflow at higher speeds.
My Covin suffered this problem for ages and in the end it was all down to poor airflow over the rad at higher speeds. My fans only ever come on when stuck in traffic now I've sorted it. _________________ DARREN
I LOVE RUST ME
Patent Pending "The Ultimate In Rust Remedy"
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2527 Location: Mudway, Kent
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:06 am Post subject:
gerrelt wrote:
ElusiveStranger wrote:
1/ Is your rad getting hot?
I believe so, otherwise the fan wouldn't come on.
Don't guess, feel. Check all the hoses.
I'm thinking bad thermostat, air lock or if the Alfa thermostat works like the Subaru that you're losing too much heat through your heater or you've shut the flow in the heater & forgotten (therefore thermostat doesn't get warm) _________________ The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.
'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more
Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"
Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 354 Location: the Netherlands
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:26 am Post subject:
@caddy: the fan is getting enough airflow while doing slow city driving, so it should have enough on higher speeds too.
And a whaletail...yeah, that should work, but that would not look good on my beetle, and it's just not my cup of tea. And getting the reservoir above the radiator would be a problem.
@ricola & covin: Nah, I am way to stubborn to move the radiator up front.. .yet... If all else fails, I will put it up front. But, up front doesn't offer much possibilities for air openings, either. Yes, I could use an american aircon front, but those air grids aren't very big either.
@ElusiveStranger: Damn, now you mention it, I placed a valve in the heater matrix hoses. Originally a Alfa 33 doesn't have that. Somehow I thought that heater-thing was a subaru issue only... I've been driving with that valve closed, If the weather is good tonight, I will do a testrun with the valve open. _________________ homepage
VolksRomeo 13033 S 1.4 IE (VW 1303 S with Alfa Romeo 33 1.4 IE engine)
_________________
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2527 Location: Mudway, Kent
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject:
gerrelt wrote:
@ElusiveStranger: Damn, now you mention it, I placed a valve in the heater matrix hoses. Originally a Alfa 33 doesn't have that. Somehow I thought that heater-thing was a subaru issue only... I've been driving with that valve closed, If the weather is good tonight, I will do a testrun with the valve open.
Have a good look and think.
Would be nice if it is something that simple. If it is you could always make up a:
(heater)
x
| |
| x |
| |
(engine)
Sorta thing out of copper pipe and T's where the "x" is a shut off valve so you can turn off the heater completely and still have flow through the system.
fingers crossed for ya! _________________ The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.
'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more
Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"
@caddy: the fan is getting enough airflow while doing slow city driving, so it should have enough on higher speeds too..
have you measured the airflow over the rad without the fans running at various road speeds ? what natural air flow do you have ? or are you relying on the fans at all road speeds ?
gerrelt wrote:
And a whaletail...yeah, that should work, but that would not look good on my beetle, and it's just not my cup of tea. And getting the reservoir above the radiator would be a problem..
didn't mean as a permanent fixture, just to try out and see where the problems lie..
Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 354 Location: the Netherlands
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject:
caddy wrote:
have you measured the airflow over the rad without the fans running at various road speeds ? what natural air flow do you have ? or are you relying on the fans at all road speeds ?
I didn't measure the airflow, I don't know how... But I did some tests with a front windscreen blower and that told me that the radiator is getting airflow.
caddy wrote:
didn't mean as a permanent fixture, just to try out and see where the problems lie..
Ah, yeah, I don't have a whale tail lying around and it would take some fabricating to make the radiator in a position like that.
I really appreciate everybody's thinking and ideas!! Keep them coming!
This is a great forum!
@ElusiveStranger: I did my testrun with the heater valve fully open. But it didn't do much. I seemed to run a little cooler, but after 10 kilometers driving at 80 km/h the fan came on again and stayed on the next 10 kilometer back.
I did notice that it takes a very long time to heat up to 90 degrees, so I will replace the thermostat for sure.
Then I will do the same test again with the valve open. _________________ homepage
VolksRomeo 13033 S 1.4 IE (VW 1303 S with Alfa Romeo 33 1.4 IE engine)
_________________
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
.yet... If all else fails, I will put it up front. But, up front doesn't offer much possibilities for air openings, either. Yes, I could use an american aircon front, but those air grids aren't very big either.
