Evil elusive applause cooling problem

Submitted by aussietom on

Forum: 

I have an older (1990) Applause and I'm experiencing a hard to rectify cooling problem. The car overheats sporadically and upon stopping the coolant seems to boil. I think this is a problem with coolant flow; the bottom radiator hose feels almost cool to the touch while the top one is extremely hot. I have however had the thermostat replaced (twice), the radiator cleaned, the water pump replaced, the radiator cap replaced, and the alternator replaced to fix an electrical problem (charging at too high a voltage) that may or may not be related. Several mechanics have looked at the car and apparently tests show that it's not a blown or cracked head gasket. The problem is intermittent, the car may run perfectly at times (usually when I'm taking it to be looked at lol), but almost always there's a quiet bubbling/gurgling coming from the outflow resevoir upon stopping. Help much appreciated.

Had a similar problem with a

Submitted by Kim Halliwell on

Had a similar problem with a Toyota Space Cruiser. Had to fit a thermostatically controlled electric fan that wasn't wired through the ignition so that it would cool the engine when the car was switched off. Eventually traced to a faulty radiator cap not keeping the system pressurized.

Cooling problem

Submitted by smithy68 on

Hi it is either 1 of 2 problems, you do have a cylinder head gasket problem (sometimes the only way to really check is pull the head off)
or the second is you have an air pocket in the cooling system, the way to get rid of the air pocket is to turn the heater on and the fan to max, then run the car at idle with the radiator cap off for a good 20-30 mins then put the radiator cap back on the car drive it for 10 mins still with the heater and fan on then remove the cap after returning from the drive, remembering to be carefull as the cooling system will be pressurised when removing the cap and the coolant could sculd you. If the level has droped top it up with new coolant.

Radiator cap.

Submitted by Mace on

Fit a new radiator cap of the correct pressure. Water in the radiator is expanding to be replaced with air on coolant contraction. That creates an air pocket and the water wont flow. Get advise to find the method of filling the radiator - could there be an air exclusion 'nut' of which your unaware.
If that doesnt solve it check for a leaks in the radiator - a minute leak will suck air!

Radiator?

Submitted by gregp1962 on

Have you checked to see that the tubes in the radiator are not blocked. If they are, you could unblock them with a dipstick. Good luck.

Evil elusive applause cooling problem

Submitted by alec42 on

The fault is in my 1993 Applause and is probably inability of radiator fan to run UNLESS the airconditioner is also running.

Look at the fat metal water pipe in top front of engine it has 3 temperature? detectors wired to it. My car has one with a broken elec terminal lug so a wire is hanging loose beneath. I guess the trouble will disappear when I fix that.

Is a Workshop Manual available for '93 Applause 1.6Xi???

Cheers, ALEC42

Cooling Problem

Submitted by Corey on

Hey Aussie Tom,

Corey here from Brisbane! With an applause to boot!

I have just finished replacing the temperature sensor switch on my applause which turns the fan on and off intermittently. If this switch is not working, your fan will not cut in and out when it is supposed to. It also tells the engine when the water is hot enough to cycle through the radiator or cold enough to cycle through the engine. If this is not working, this might explain the overheating. If left untreated, it may cause the head gasket to blow, which I have also just had to fix from the same problem...

It is located just near the alternator down the back half of the engine. I had an autosparky replace mine for about 80 bucks and since this has been fixed, it nearly runs cold all of the time. As an interim, you can hard wire the switch so that the fan and sensor run constantly, but this can drain the battery from the constant running of the fan at idle when there is not enough voltage generated to run the fan constantly. I.e. heavy traffic. Any other issues, comments, feel free to email me at eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%43%5f%57%65%6e%7a%40%59%61%68%6f%6f%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%43%5f%57%65%6e%7a%40%59%61%68%6f%6f%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b')). Believe me, I have had every problem with my applause imaginable... great car though, I love it!~

Corey