Swammelstein Rolls-Royce

My Corniche gets too hot!

The question:

My 1971 FHC Corniche gets too hot! I hate it I have done technical a lot to the car but since I have a new themostat the engine gets too hot. It is still in the white range but not in the middle where it was befor the first themostat broke. by driving highway (90 miles/h) or in town in summer the needle marches to the end of the white range or even a little bit over it. I tried already two thermostat and checked the waterpump everthing is fine.

Now I am planning to replace the radiator thinking that it could be the problem.

Does anybody have similar experience?

The responses:

I have a '77 Corniche coupe and did have the same problem. At high speeds, the gauge would rise to the higher end of the "white band" and in "stop & go" traffic - both would be aggravated by running the A/C. In fact, I'm sure these higher running temperatures contributed to the eventual failure of my A/C compressor. Similarly, the usual systems seemed to be working fine. The problem was the viscous fan - a sort of "clutch" assembly associated with the fan (the part number is UE40167 - about two hundred & fifty dollars requiring 2 hrs labor to install). Apparently, the fan - over time - can slip. In fact (with a glove on) the mechanic could bring the fan to a halt. The slipping fan, though not obvious, was enough to sufficiently deplete the air flow through the radiator and cause the additional rise in temperature. Since it was replaced, I've experienced normal operating temperatures (i.e., the temp needle will never rise past around the half way point on the gauge.

At first it seemed incredible to me that this would remedy the situation - still, I can't refute the results. I'm not saying that this must be what ails your car - but it sure sounds like "a fit". Accordingly, please let us know how it turns out. I'm also interested in any "overheating" stories - it would be good to hear about the various causes - if anyone could provide some...

I too, had to replace the fan clutch (viscous fan) in a SWII. However, I also wired a switch into the electric cooling fan circuit so that I could switch it on while idling in hot weather. It worked. There is something called an 'otter switch' or some such, that turns on the electric fan, but it only cuts in at over 220 degrees F. I bypassed it. Incidentally, the clutch is the same as the Jaguar V-12 (so I was told - anyway, it worked). The temp gauges in 'modern' cars are notoriously unreliable, as are the oil pressure gauges. It's best to err on the side of safety, however - severe overheating will cook your engine. Another trick, if you're caught in a traffic jam on a hot day, is to 'pop' the bonnet - it may not look dignified, but a fried engine is even less-so. Words from a non-expert.