13 replies to this topic

[IainStallard]

Hi guys

Once again, new problem. Seeing as the weather has taken a turn for the worst, (its blo*dy freezing!) my car doesn't seem to warm up. If driving along normally, the gauge never moves and heater barely gets hot. However, if stationary for long periods of time, eg, traffic, then the car starts to warm up, but as soon as you get any speed up again, it cools down. Could this be the wrong temperature thermostat or could it be stuck open? Its like the engine is being over-cooled.

Car is a 1995 Mini spi

Cheers

[MiniAida]

Hi Iain,

Does the temp gauge start reading a normal temp when you're stuck in traffic?

That won't tell you a great deal, only that the temp sensor is broken or more likely disconnected. The wiring is quite brittle on the SPi, especially when it's this cold.

I'd check the temp sensor first - round the back of the injector body, on the underneath - follow the wiring from the left hand side as you look at it - it's a tight fit & near the exhaust manifold, so wait for engine cool first. They're a pain to change, but it's possible the connector's not on properly.

Thermostat is easiest to check - just need a bit of instant gasket if you've not got a spare to put it all back together. I usually drop mine in to a glass full of freshly boiled water. You may need to do this twice as the water cools to 88 degrees C really quickly. You will see the thermostat open from the non spring side if the water's hot enough, close down as it cools.

Blowing cold air from the heater could be lots of issues, like the thermostat valve stuck, or just the fact that it is really cold at the moment. Mine hardly warms up in a 30 min drive this weather.
The heater valve is easy to fix if you pull it out and free it from the inside - i.e. disconnect the pipes and use a bar / phillips screwdriver to open the valve (more like a piece of plastic with a hole in that slides in & out, then close it using the lever etc. Do it a few times to free it up properly.

Mine takes a long time (about 10 miles / 15 mins) to come up to temp this weather, so is your journey to work that long?

Good luck.

MA

[IainStallard]

All sensors definitely work as if left to idle, then the gauge moves up to running temperature. But once moving, engine cools down again. It seems like the wrong thermostat for the weather so will change that when I get the chance.

[MiniAida]

Sounds like you've found the problem there.

Hope you don't get too cold in the meantime!

MA

[IainStallard]

Turns out thermostat was stuck open, doh! Ah well, easy fix!

[Paul Cooper 1300]

Hi, Everyone!

 

I've similar problems with my SPI 1994. While driving the temperature gauge works, but the temperature of the engine its lower than the middle of the gauge, the normal level, I think... i've changed 2 times my thermostat, putting a new thermostat that one of my best knowers abaut Mini tell me...74º,,,but since that, I've been reading about this, and I think that I need an 88º thermostat, but my friend tell me that this could take my engine so hot...

 

Can u tell me, which thermostat will works for my Mini Cooper SPI 1994? 

 

Thanks

[RooBoonix]

Mine always sits just below the middle of the gauge. Just below it unless it's a hot day or I'm sitting in traffic then it creeps up. Temperature wise I think mine is an 82 degree but I'm not 100% sure

Edit: oops just realised this is an old thread, I was replying to the guy above.

Edited by RooBoonix, 24 September 2015 - 09:10 PM.

[spiguy]

74 is too cold for an injection car in any case. That might even keep the ECU in warm up mode,not sure when it changes over but 88 is correct for an injection car, though I imagine you would get away with an 82.

[FlyingScot]

Thermostat should be 88 degrees. The ECU needs to see 75 degrees before it shuts off the inlet manifold heater and normal operating temperature is >80 degrees. Typical temp is 85 degrees when your gauge is approaching the "dot"

FS

[Paul Cooper 1300]

Thank you! I'm almost certain that my car goes rich and bad because that...because the thermostat ir a 74!,,,

[FlyingScot]

Yep that would cause an issue....the MEMS won't ever get the signal that the motor is hot

Sometimes it's not the fuel injection system but rather lack of using the right parts.

FS

[Paul Cooper 1300]

Hello again! 

 

I'm thinking about fitting a 88 degree but my question is that, in hot days or a heavy traffic I'm worried about if the temperature goes higher and could be a problem.... but...if the thermostat is 88 degree, the working temperature should be almost 85 ....

 

Thanks

[Steve220]

Working temp should be around 92 degrees if I remember correctly.

[Paul Cooper 1300]

Hi Everyone!!

 

yesterday I change my thermostat ( was a 74 degree thermostat ) and fit a 88 degree thermostat... the car goes cold yet... I test the car in the night... and the temperature was nice...but the car acts almost as before but I noticed that the car was working better than the other thermostat...

 

I've to try it at day and measure the block temperature with a laser thermometer for contrats that the temperature was right...but with de 88 degree in idle, should be heated....

 

the temperature gauge goes up and then goes down..., ranges a lot.... but if it was the temperature sensor and problems with the conections?

 

Thanks