.? Temp gage soaring intraffic

[Ewan]

2003 grand vicarage, 3 door. Runs fine, but today stuck in traffic for 10 mins gauge went into the red, went back down when in clean air.

Car new to me, doesn’t appear to have used coolant etc.

Great full for any advice as this has worried me, many thanks

[ScottieJ]

So as soon as you started moving and there was air flow through the rad it dropped again?

Sounds like you might need a new viscous coupling on the fan, you can test it using a rolled up bit of newspaper, when cold you should be able to stop the fan with the newspaper while the engine is running. But once up to temp it should shred the newspaper to bits as the coupling should lock up.

[Ewan]

Thanks il try that