3 replies to this topic

[dpryszku]

Dear Mini Forum.

 

It s been a while that i have got for you a new question.

It means that mini rocks and that i need your expertise.

 

My SPI BalMoral had a changing behaviour.

On normal condition and after a few miles, the legacy water temperature gauge was raising up and  biting the middle step of the gauge. The engine idle was also going down as the engine was on cruising temperature. Do not worry, i am also looking for the oil temperature gauge to have the good indication of the engine temperature, that let me load the car at the hightest...

 

As i am using it almost daily on the same way to the office, i have seen the changing behaviour below.

 

I felt that the engine was running a bit higher that usual like it hasnt get off the "cold mode". i have also noticed that the water temp gauge was still biting the blue section at the bottom of the gauge. Oil temparature was alright and the internal heat was deleviring hot air.

 

Back home, i have checked that Water coolant level was ok. I have checked with my hand that the botom of the water cooler (where the water temp sender unit is set) was not cold at all contrary to the termostat housing that was hot as expected.

I have also check electrical plug of both water cooler sender unit and manifold cooler sender that are used to managed the water temparature that is displayed on the gauge.  So my guess is the sender units are working properly

 

I then had a look at the thermostat that seems very very difficult to open and even seems blocked.

While receiving the the new  thermostat spare, i decided to run without it.

 

The result while running without thermostat, it that the water temp gauge is rising up to 25%, the idle is ok, the heater is running ok and that the water cooler has a signifiant spreaded temparature. 

 

As soon as i received the spare, i set it back, bend the spring to check if all is ok ( this is where i found the legacy thermostat very very hard to open).

On my morning ride i had the same behaviour than before (water temp gauge at the botom of the gauge, cold start mode activated, heater temp and thermostat housing hot as expected and a cold bottom water cooler.

 

 

My guess is that the water pump is a bit lazzy.

How can we check if water pump is not faulty.

Could you also please confirm me that i haven't set back the thermostat up-side-down (parts with the spring is on the lower side and plug in, rounded and shorter side is on top).

 

Thanks for your help and have a nice week.

 

 

dAVid

 

 

 

 

[nicklouse]

to check the thermostat put in a pan of water and heat. you should see it open. you should not really be able to open it by hand.

 

that is what i would start with. yes check the new one as well.

[nicklouse]

oh and a way to check the pump. engine cold or warm NOT HOT remove the expansion tank cap (now you know why not HOT) if you then rev the engine while looking at the water level it should be sucked down. and return to the level.

[dpryszku]

Thank you nicklouse for this tips.

I have checked that Thermostat was running ok and that the water pump was not lazzy.

 

So it seems that the Cooling system is operating coreclty.

 

After a deep reading of the post "Having Problems With Spi Single Point Injection" it seems that this behaviour could be caused by a faulty coolant temp sensor place on the inlet manifold

. This sensor has never been replaced contrary to all the othe sensor, fuel trap an other capilaries that was replaced 3 years ok.

 

On this post it says that this behaviour (temp gauge stays at the bottom, and ECU is cold start) is linked with rich condition that is not my case (sparks are white, and exhaust is not fat/oily)

 

I will change it as well but i was wondering if this could done wihout removing the manifold ?

 

Do you think that no cooling water could reach the manifold ? due to seal tubes for example that make the sender to return cold condition to the ECU ?

 

Thanks for your help and for your answers.

 

DAVid