I have a 1.9 02 plate diesil Octavia - been around the block a few times. It is a workhorse and carries my laders  and stuff.  I am dealing with a few problems at the moment - but making some progress.

 

I have / had a overheating problem a while after a garage fitted a new timing belt and water pump - I thought it was a water pump problem - but now seems not.

It warmed up very quick and went to 90 degrees in just a few minutes - then overheated when going up a very steep bank with ladders etc on the roof. I am sure there are no timing isssues.

 

I have since replaced the thermostat and now takes quite a while to come up to temperature - normal time I would say. I have not been on a long run / loaded up on a big hill again yet. There is no oil in the water and no steam from the exhaust.

 

 Also a a pal took a long time and gradually bled the system for me. There was a broken switch and a cut wire down near the bottom of the radiator where the fans are- I suspect there may have been problems before.

 

Is there anyone who can tell me please why there are two fans - one behind the alternator area and another close by, and if :

 

1)  There is any harm in side stepping the normal auto cut in / cut out - i.e. running them both or one of them by seperate wiring and a switch for on / off. In other words ' 'fans to manual' not automatic? This I have already done via a pal who has wired them through a relay and a dashboard switch- things seem ok so far and I switch the fans on when under load or going up a hill or stuck in traffic,, but would like to have only one fan on 'manual' if possible.

 

2) Which is the most important of the two fans?

 

I know it seems a bit of a dogs breakfast - the car only has to last me another year - and I have just had a full MOT done with no major issues, so would like to hang onto it for a while.

 

Any additional comments would be appreciated - and thanks to all for previous help - very much appreciated. Matt

 

ps I have changed my email address from [email protected] to [email protected]     but can't see anywhere on the site where I can update / ammend??

Isn't the second fan for cars fitted with air con?

 

My poverty spec MK I classic (sans air con) only has one.

 

Having a manual switch isn't a great idea as you will forget one day and you'll also have to inform your insurance company as you have made a modification. Why not fix the original setup - it's not that complex.

 

PS - re changing your email - when logged in click on your username top right then click on Account Setting and you'll see "Email Address" on the left hand side of the screen

 

Edited 27 May, 20188 yr by bigjohn

Why don't you do more testing now you have changed the thermostat and if it doesn't overheat again, just leave it alone?

 

Even with a car under load, if you are moving there is plenty of airflow through a radiator to not need the fans so I doubt the fans would cause an issue other than when the car is stationary

I have an 04 Octy 1   with aircon  and that has 2 fans, from the front the one on the left is for the air con.

I have a similar problem in that its losing water via the expansion overflow, i've since found my rad fan ( right one) is dead 

and i've just replaced that,  with one off ebay.

I'm also going to change the thermostat but for the moment  i've just taken the thermostat out.

just been on a 30mile drive  engine up to temp but fan did not kick in, so like an answer above  there must be enough airflow through the rad when driving

I came on here to look for where the relays are fitted, to bypass it  to see if fan kicks in