Sj running hot

[ferris]

My Sj has started running very hot over the last few days and im not sure why. Its not loosing any water and the oil looks fine. I can drive it quite far before the needle go's up in to the red, and when its in stationary traffic it cools down again. I thought it might be the fan as its not making as much noise as it did before.

Iv already ordered a electric fan as iv been meaning to get one any way.

Is there any thing els it could be?

Im driving round with the heaters on at the moment (not ideal on a hot day).

[turbo-tom]

not to sure if its anything to do with it , but you checked the thermostat , opening and closing all right ?

[ScottieJ]

The water pump could be on it's way out it if is fine at idle but not under load. or perhaps you have a blockage in your radiator?

what rad are you running the 1.3 or 1.6?

[ferris]

Iv got the 1.3 rad. Is there a way of checking the water pump?

[twiss]

Open your rad cap (when cold) and start the engine... You should be able to see how much flow there is.
Normally should be quite a bit of movement

[twiss]

btw mines suffering from the same thing.... needs a new water pump

[ScottieJ]

Iv got the 1.3 rad. Is there a way of checking the water pump?

not sure but the 1.3 rad might not have the capacity needed to keep the engine cool in hot weather under load? as the same thing can happen when you are running low on water in the rad.

you can check the bearings in the water pump by whipping off the belt and seeing if it spins freely and has no play but if the impeller has corroded the only way to tell is by taking the water pump off really.

[twiss]

Mine's got a 1300 rad in it with the 1.6 engine...
It was fine all last summer until the water pump started to give up

I find that the radiators with the smaller rad caps seem to be more efficient than the large rad cap alternative

[ferris]

My fan belt does squeal a lot even when the belt is tight, i don't know if that is a sign?

[twiss]

Hmmmm probably... that would imply that there is resistance in one of the pulleys.
They should spin round really easily. Maybe you just need a new belt though?

I would take the belt off... check the alternator and the water pump both spin nicely, and if they do, change the fanbelt