Heat Meter Goes Up When In Traffic

[4DR5]

Hi experts,

i'm having a 2006 maruti zen LXi model car. Since of late, i have noticed that the heater meter goes up when in traffic. it comes back to the normal middle level position when i start driving again.

there is no water leak from the radiator, there is enough water in the reserve...etc.

can anyone advise.

Thanks

4dr5

[VVTi]

Check your fans.

[4DR5]

they seem to be working fine too

[Watchman]

sometime's the brush's of the fan wear out and can work one moment and not work the next. Check the fan a couple of times (especially when you realize the engine eating up)

At least the symptoms point to a faulty fan. To elaborate; when the car is not moving there is no cool air blowing into the radiator hence the rise in temp. And when you start driving the breeze that hits the radiator will start to cool the system again..

[The Don]

Check the radiator for blockages. Also when it comes to fans, just because they are spinning it does not mean they are spinning at the required speed, so get them checked too.

[harshansenadhir]

Heat gauge moving up slightly when vehicle is standstill can be noticed, if the thermostat has been removed.

1. Is it moving passing the middle point?

2. Is it happening while a/c switched on or off?

3. If answer for no 2 is yes, does it happen in the day time only?

4. Does the same happens if you run and park the vehicle in your driveway ?

[The Don]

Heat gauge moving up slightly when vehicle is standstill can be noticed, if the thermostat has been removed.

1. Is it moving passing the middle point?

2. Is it happening while a/c switched on or off?

3. If answer for no 2 is yes, does it happen in the day time only?

4. Does the same happens if you run and park the vehicle in your driveway ?

Do you mean the thermostatic valve or the fan thermostat?

[harshansenadhir]

Do you mean the thermostatic valve or the fan thermostat?

Thermostat Valve obviously. If the valve has been removed, coolant will always recirculate through rad. When cruising, heat exchange would continuously happen and would bring the gauge down from middle point (coolant temp lower than operating temp)

If the vehicle stops or travels in bumper to bumper, then the temp would rise upto the point where temp sender unit sends the signal to operate fans.

So in this case, need to identify how significant this "rise" of the gauge.

[Sylvi]

Hi experts,

i'm having a 2006 maruti zen LXi model car. Since of late, i have noticed that the heater meter goes up when in traffic. it comes back to the normal middle level position when i start driving again.

there is no water leak from the radiator, there is enough water in the reserve...etc.

can anyone advise.

Thanks

4dr5

4dr5,

Try the radiator core cleaning out side with high preassure water jet.

Sylvi wijesinghe.

Edited September 28, 2012 by Sylvi

[harshansenadhir]

4dr5,

Try the radiator core cleaning out side with high preassure water jet.

Sylvi wijesinghe.

I would give this advise to relatively old vehicles without a/c condensers infront of the radiator and also if the radiator got stiff copper fins. Most a/c condensers and radiators nowadays got tiny alluminium fins.

High pressure washer jet might bend these fins creating more resistance to air flaw. Been there done that, I know this isn't a good idea

[ZyKo]

Had the same problem in my car. The fan was not working. Meter goes higher when stopped and then reduces.

[Sylvi]

I would give this advise to relatively old vehicles without a/c condensers infront of the radiator and also if the radiator got stiff copper fins. Most a/c condensers and radiators nowadays got tiny alluminium fins.

High pressure washer jet might bend these fins creating more resistance to air flaw. Been there done that, I know this isn't a good idea

'harshansenadhir',

I am not try to dispute your theory behind same.

I have noticed many A/C Repair centers hold high pressure water jet to the A/C condenser when they get blocked .

I had a Nissan van when I had low cooling they did that in Dehiwala one repair center, the problem was OK after that..

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[4DR5]

thanks for the replies,

Is it moving passing the middle point? yes

2. Is it happening while a/c switched on or off? it happens with A/C on as well as off

3. If answer for no 2 is yes, does it happen in the day time only? both day and night

4. Does the same happens if you run and park the vehicle in your driveway ? yes

i also checked and saw that the radiator fan was working properly. I have already flush the radiator but still the problem exists.

Thnaks

4DR5

[harshansenadhir]

thanks for the replies,

Is it moving passing the middle point? yes

2. Is it happening while a/c switched on or off? it happens with A/C on as well as off

3. If answer for no 2 is yes, does it happen in the day time only? both day and night

4. Does the same happens if you run and park the vehicle in your driveway ? yes

i also checked and saw that the radiator fan was working properly. I have already flush the radiator but still the problem exists.

Thnaks

4DR5

Ok, seems this is only related to cooling system. no inter-relationship with the A/C system.

Can you carryout following steps from a cold start.

1.Open the radiator cap and check whether there's coolant in visinity. if not add coolant / water

2. Start the engine (keep A/C switched off)

3. Watch how the temp gague rise up. Also watch for radiator fans.

tell us following,

1.How long does it takes for the gauge to reach middle point. ?

2. does fan engages as gauge reaches middle point?

3. if not at which point fans do kick in ?

4 does water spurts out radiator cap openning before / after fans start running?