Bit of a van problemo??

[Gerbutt]

Hiya chaps - happy new year. Just wondered if anyone know what might be amiss. Just gone out to my vito van and when I started it the temp gauge went straight to the red, even though it's cold. Checked the water and it's fine. Took it for a little spin and it seems to have lost power too. The fan is also on all the time now. It was fine and dandy yesterday, any ideas??

[Big 'Ammer]

Thermostat stuck shut?

[Gerbutt]

After a wee while hot air comes into the van so does that say it's opened? As it thinks it's overheating when it's not would that make the turbo run funny as a safegard?

[dandkgroundcare]

sounds like its stuck shut i had the same with my peugeot

[Gerbutt]

Did it make it run funny too dude? Even if I don't start it up, just turn the ignition on second click the temp goes right up - even though it's stone cold - is that the same?

[dandkgroundcare]

when mine went it was like driving with 2 ton in the back gutless

[Gerbutt]

Hmm sounds like it maybe that then, I might try sticking a new one in before I take it to a garage. It there a test I could do on it?

[Rupe]

Disconnect the thermostat and see how it seems? Obviousyy if it is overheating you'll not have a way of knowing about it!

 

I did this with mine (LDV not vito) and drove it for ages, but I'm sure that was in the summer and my mechanic friend said make sure its fixed by winter or you'll have trouble!

 

So I'm not suggestign you run it with no thermostat for long but see if it ticks over over and sounds ok, and check the temp just by feel/smell and maybe drive a few miles. If it seems ok then get a new thermostat.

[dandkgroundcare]

no test apart from changing thermostat that i know of

[Rupe]

Ah, I remember now waht we did!!

 

The thermostat was stuck shut so removed it and we broke it to make it open and re fitted it broken but open. The van was fine then no temp troubles and I ran it for a few weeks before gettign round to getting a new one. But that was in summer.