Overheating, Gearbox? Something Else?

[Brick]

I have searched all the things i can think of on here but to no prevail so here goes.

So the last 2 weeks of these crazy heats have been having issues of almost overheating. any time i drive when the temperature is over 36 degrees i am finding my temperature creeping up and today it made it to almost the top of the gauge. It seems to be related to the gear box as its only when i am actually moving, as soon as i sit still and idle the gauge starts to go back down and the problem seems to happen more when going up hills so I assume its due to the gearbox changing up and down gears. I find that when i go to manual mode that it seems not as bad but maybe i am imagining things?

Does the gear box heat affect the main temp gauge? Would a Trans cooler to fix this? is this normal for our jap import cars? I also think i noticed a few slips on the box when it got really high in temp but i may have just imagined it.

[joshm35]

have you installed a hdi front mount and changed the air con thermo? if so the wires may not be wired correctly and you may be blowing the air out instead of sucking in. Trans cooler can not hurt if you feel it will help. Also check to see if you have enough coolant in your radiator and check hoses for cracks and leaks. don't think it would have much to do with gearbox. Could also be a blocked radiator core. Just some food for thought

[joshm35]

also in manual mode (correct me if i'm wrong) but the flow to the radiator trans cooler stops when in manual mode or does something similar so should have opposite effect then you are explaining

[Brick]

no front mount or thermos, all stock under the bonnet so far. No leaks and yeah the Radiator is full. Well it was last service which wasnt long ago but i have planned on re checking it once the car has cooled down tonight.

Anytime the ambient temp is under 36 degrees the gauge doesnt move just sits solid half way up the gauge

And yeah i thought it was strange to be gearbox related but it just seems to be a direct correlation.

[joshm35]

well get a trans cooler to be safe if you wish that way you know its cooling the oil and you can choose where to place it for best air flow. could even add a small thermo like someone has receintly done to their trans cooler

[PN-Mad]

Cooling system is hard to bleed. Very hard. If they changed the coolant, my bet would be you have a air lock or something in there. Might be worth bleeding and checking again.

[Brick]

Cooling system hasnt been done since hitting australia as I am the only person servicing it and yeah i heard the bleeding sucked so i have kind of been putting it off. I guess maybe its time to do a flush and bleed. Maybe scottys coolant mod at the same time to make it easier.

[joshm35]

cant hurt with this heat.

[scotty nm35]

Definitely just short on fluid, one cup full missing is enough to airlock the system. Let it cool overnight and top up the rear bleed point. You may need to do it a few times but let it cool completely before you try again.

The best part of having the coolant mod installed is the system won't airlock, even with a litre missing from my experience.

[Brick]

How much is that mod Scotty? I still have to get the dump pipe and boost actuator also. I'm off to Europe for 4 weeks but I think it's time to order up once I'm home

[Daleo]

Definitely just short on fluid, one cup full missing is enough to airlock the system. Let it cool overnight and top up the rear bleed point. You may need to do it a few times but let it cool completely before you try again.

The best part of having the coolant mod installed is the system won't airlock, even with a litre missing from my experience.

Have you got time to make one for me now mate? I'm good to go!

Also Josh; if it's getting to the top of the gauge; that is STINKING hot!

Even at 105 deg on the Informeter, mine doesn't move the needle from it's normal spot; so to be moving it, it must be getting seriously hot.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Daleo

[PN-Mad]

Yup, the gauge is a massive pile of shit. By the time it moves off the normal mark it sits on, things have gone really bad somewhere.

Bleed,and check for leaks. That's your first stop. Have to bleed with full heater on, and the nose of the car pointed downhill on a decent slope. Takes a while to master it.

[scotty nm35]

Have you got time to make one for me now mate? I'm good to go!

I will make a few up soon mate, let you know when they are done.

I think hot on the gauge is over 120 degrees and definitely getting into blown head gasket territory. I find you can never get the air bubbles from the block unless you go for a drive, then let it cool completely before topping the rear bleeder. As Alex mentioned, it should be easier with the front lower, that way the air is more likely to make it's way up to the bleeder.

[Brick]

I never actually hit the hot just the top of the part where it shows the increments. Seemed to be all good again after the cold change came thru last night. But yeah I will still be grabbing the coolant mod and doi g a full flush I wanted to anyway.

[scotty nm35]

I have a couple made up if you want one Josh or Dale.

[Daleo]

I have a couple made up if you want one Josh or Dale.

That I do brother, shoot me your bank details. Lost them...

Again.

[Brick]

I will want one after the 19th. In europe till then so no point for now. Can you keep me one? Might also want boost actuatof mod and dump? Package price? Haha jks. Should know how my finances will look as far as getting them all in about 2 weeks

[scotty nm35]

No worries, let me know when you get back Josh.

[bikenut]

Hey Josh

Just noticed this thread.

I did a trip to Victoria recently during this day the temp air temp was 36deg and max of 45deg.

My trans started to play up. I believe it to be due to its temp overheating. The symtoms are, if in manual mode it drops into 4th and will not allow 5th to be selected.

If in D it hunts in and out of ratios. This is not the first time I have experianced this problem. In cooler conditions after a long trip I have experienced the same problem in the hills around Mt Ousley (long climbs at hwy speeds). I feel a larger trans cooler should solve the prob. I have never bothered as it usually only fails for a very short period. The vic trip it continued for hours, causing me to drop speed to around 100k (insane) to allow trans to stabilise.

[scotty nm35]

I have had the trans in limp mode many times, it is definitely doing that due to overheating fluid. Taking the key out and re-starting the car should clear it, but if it's still too hot it will fault again obviously. Get a trans cooler on it Murray, they aren't expensive.