1.4 Rallye Overheating

[Lowercase 56]

Hi Guys,

 

I picked up a white 1.4 Rallye the other day running Bike Carbs, and ive had some issues when stuck in traffic with it over heating, and last night i had brown nasty coolant leaking into the cabin from where the radio should be.

 

Im going to give the thing a good service, oil, filters etc, and i think ill flush out the radiator and pipes and replace with fresh new coolant. and see whats what after that, but before i get stuck in to that, i was thinking how to make the cooling more efficient.

 

main question, is what radiator choices do i have in terms of upgrading, possibly with two fans to help cooling whilst creeping along in traffic and should i source 2nd hand or new.

 

cheers

Edited July 1, 2012 by DaSneakyGit

[sickomotorsport 4 2 Cars]

sounds like the heater matrix is leaking, this would cause it to overheat.

[Lan 24 1 Cars]

as said sounds like the heater matrix is leaking which obviously can contribute to overheating, you should replace the heater matrix and also replace the thermostat as if that is sticking closed or not opening enough that could also cause the engine to overheat.

you shouldn't need to upgrade the standard radiator as it can do its job no problem but remember if your not moving it will get hot especially as the exhaust runs right next to the radiator, so checking the fan is working is also a thing to be doing and maybe even install a additional switch to manually actuate the fan, once you've done all that and changed the coolant make sure its bled through properly it can take some time on these engines!

[tdr_1976 41 1 Cars]

You could fit a GTi twin fan assembly onto it, with both fans switched individually.

 

I've done it on my XS, I use the car on Auto tests, so it gets hot quickly as not much air flow gets into the radiator.

 

Might be overkill on a road car though.

[MiniGibbo 142]

Tu's are renowned for being buggers to bleed on coolant too.

[tdr_1976 41 1 Cars]

I've never had an issue bleeding the XS, As long as you raise the header tank and hook it to the bonnet when open, it should be easy enough to bleed

[MiniGibbo 142]

Didn't say it was impossible as ive done it as well, the same as hundreds of other people..

 

It's just renowned for being a bellend

[tdr_1976 41 1 Cars]

I didn't say it was impossible!

 

All I was saying is that I personally had no problems bleeding mine, and suggested a good way of doing it!

 

Just trying to help.......

[Lowercase 56]

cheers guys, i'll change the matrix and thermostat first and tthen start looking foir a twin fan radiator, are they still available new?

 

also, how easy is it to wire a remote switch in the cabin so i can turn the fan on when in traffic?

[tdr_1976 41 1 Cars]

Hi mate, you should be able to pick the twin fans on the for sale section of this forum, I'd suggest puting up a wanted post up too!

 

Regarding the wiring of a switch, I'd only attempt it if your competent with wiring. I wired mine when I had the engine out the end of last year.

 

I wired mine via an internal fuse box and a relay for each.

[N3VRAM 12 1 Cars]

Hi Mate,

 

I had the exact same problem as you with my rallye in regards to it overheating.

 

When i looked into mine the main problem was that the fan wasn't kicking in... coupled with the fact my rad was literally falling to pieces i bought a rad for the 1.9 which fit in nicley by chopping the bracket off the bottom of my old one to the new one - depends how much fiddling you wanna do.. (i'd defo have a look at your heater matrix too as said before). Also manual fan switch is a good idea

Edited July 1, 2012 by N3VRAM

[Lowercase 56]

i have a really good mechanic and what not available at work who builds rally cars, but id like to try and tackle as much of this myself or ill never learn! so ill start looking into the switch

 

the oil is also really low, (below the bottom marker on the dip stick) so that probably isnt helping it to stay cool. i topped it up a touch but am waiting for filters to arrive so i can flush the engine and put fresh oil and filter on.

 

how do i access the heater matrix? remove the center console ? ill get a new one of them fitted and change the stat.

 

the radiator looks a bit manky, and the coolant is a nasty brown colour, so i think thats got to be changed. might look into new hoses while im at it. continue the silicone hose trend thats started under the hood.

 

heres some pics just to make the thread a bit less depressing:

 

[miamichris 9]

Whats up with the bonnet sticking up on the passenger side, has the hinge broken or something?

[Lowercase 56]

the bike carbs face towards the driver, so the bonnets been tilted up along the back to get a bit more air to it.

 

im going to run some ducting from the grill and aim it into the carb whilst i think of something a bit more efficient.

 

will stick a engine pic up after work.

Edited July 2, 2012 by DaSneakyGit

[Lowercase 56]

right, sorted the leak in a temp fix, pulled the hoses off that go into the bulkhead/heater matrix and joined them together.

 

lads at work reckon instaling a temp guage with a light wouldnt be a bad idea too.

[MiniGibbo 142]

One of the reasons I fitted xs dials was for the temp gauge.

[Lowercase 56]

cars got no radio etc and a nice spacious blanking pannel, so its a good learning experience to put one in myself.

[MiniGibbo 142]

Be more accurate too I'd imagine..

[Lowercase 56]

lol perhaps, my rev counter is a bit tempremental too, and the light that tells me the lights are on turns itself on and off, but i wouldnt want the bulb to wear out now would i?

[allye 530 3 Cars]

Fitting a temp gauge is a very good idea as the warning lights are very good at telling you something is wrong after the damage is done! I fitted one to my Rallye when I had the standard gauges and engine fitted, very easy to wire in using the existing sender and a aftermarket (but nice) guuge, even though the temp range on mine was stupid!

 

[Lowercase 56]

i think if i buy a mechanical water temp guage kit it will be easier, where would be best to plumb the thermometer into? and what temp will the guage need to be able to go up to?

Edited July 3, 2012 by DaSneakyGit

[christopher 5 1 Cars]

The TU24 Rallye has a larger raidiator (same as GTI I think) and a basic oil cooler like the 1.9.

 

You can rev it all day long in the sweltering heat and it stays very cool.. Maybe worth a go. Isn't the same as a diesel or something?

[Lowercase 56]

did an engine flush and changed the oil filter and put sum new oil in. dont know how much it needed and i prob over did it a touch, my dip sticks FUBAR'd so its hard to tell how much is in there now lol. but it feels much happyer. im still tempted to do an engine swap though :\

 

by the way if anyone has a spare dipstick theyd like to sell me?

 

and is it possible to remove the tube the d.stick goes down so i can clean it out? the plastic on my stick has crumbled and theres bits in the tube.

[trogboy 17]

Yep - undo the single bolt at the top which hold it to the head and you can wiggle and pull the dipstick tube out.

 

It's worth cleaning around the base where it enters the block before hand or you risk crap dropping in when you take the tube out.

[MiniGibbo 142]

When it's all sorted dude we should take them both out and get some photos..!