Fan should kick on at ??? degrees?

[wqqdster]

Just getting my wife's '78 124 back on the road after sitting for a few years. The car runs at 190 degrees but the fan doesn't come on until the temp is approaching the red zone on the gauge. I can't find my infrared temp reader right now but at what temp should the fan start?

Thanks,
Gary O

[riverdadd]

around 210 degrees.... check for air in system if fan not cutting in. "burp" system by jacking front of car so that the radiator is elevated higher than cylinder head. idle engine to release any trapped air

hope that helps

[RRoller123]

I think the "standard" fan switch is 195F.

[toplessexpat]

Find that infrared tester too..... I spent a while once chasing a cooling issue that was actually a failing gauge. Also - reversed sensor wires in the head can mean an over-read I think.

[wqqdster]

Riverdadd, I drilled and tapped a plug on top of the 'T' housing at the front/top of the engine so I can fill the system completely.... takes care of the 'burping'... thanks!

RRoller123, that's the info I needed, thanks.

toplessexpat, I was thinking that myself.... gonna have to look a little harder. Thanks

[courtenay]

I had the same experience as Topless - used the infrared to determine that the engine wasn't overheating, disconnected the wire to the sensor that pegs the needle and gauge returned to normal. Ultimately replaced the sensor and all is fine.

[124JOE]

wasn't there a post about drilling a 1/8 hole in the thermostat to bleed out the air bubble?

[4uall]

no drilling, no lifting etc Worked for me at least

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... verheating

[toplessexpat]

I've put the hole in the thermostat - just means that you don't get an air bubble under there when you're filling up.

[DieselSpider]

I ended up putting an adjustable fan switch on mine to better tune things to the diesel and because the leads broke off the OEM switch in the radiator. I also did not want to take a chance on tearing out the bottom of the radiator trying to remove the old switch especially considering its relatively large diameter and the hardness of the dope it was set in.

Advance Auto Parts has them for less than $20:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/impe ... thermostat

[wqqdster]

Thanks for all the great posts! It seems that after cycling through a few times the fan is coming on earlier. Found my temp gun and right at the fitting in the bottom of the rad it's about 200 when the fan comes on. The temp gauge in the dash is reading justa bit high.

Gary O

[courtenay]

You might also find that your temp gauge reading changes slightly depending on whether your headlights are on or off. The wonders of the Spider electrical system!

[wqqdster]

HAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!! Lucas electrics?????

I think it's just happy to be back on the road and everything will work better and better (or worse and worse!) as time goes on.