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Last Sunday I picked up a 3rd gen Surf, 2.7l petrol manual for cheap. When i bought it, I noticed after a test drive that the radiator cap was leaking and that the coolant system was not full. There are signs that coolant has been lost from the radiator cap for some time. There are no signs of leaks elsewhere. I now have a new cap and the coolant level seems to stay at the top, though the engine coolant temperature is still not stable. I suspect a faulty thermostat.
Anyway, as I was driving the car back (before having a new radiator cap fitted), the engine started to get hot, so I coasted to the hard shoulder and the engine died. Trying to start it again, it cranked very slowly. The battery is pretty crap and was soon flat.
When the recovery service arrived, my battery was still dead, but with a cold engine and battery booster the engine fired straight up and ran fine.
Does anyone know what this problem might be (the slow cranking when hot, not the overheating). Batteries produce less current when cold, so it does not make sense that the battery has less output when hot.
All I can think of is a sensitive starter, or some kind of fuel problem related to heat. Or is the engine really damaged and locking up when hot?
Cheers
Daniel
Anyway, as I was driving the car back (before having a new radiator cap fitted), the engine started to get hot, so I coasted to the hard shoulder and the engine died. Trying to start it again, it cranked very slowly. The battery is pretty crap and was soon flat.
When the recovery service arrived, my battery was still dead, but with a cold engine and battery booster the engine fired straight up and ran fine.
Does anyone know what this problem might be (the slow cranking when hot, not the overheating). Batteries produce less current when cold, so it does not make sense that the battery has less output when hot.
All I can think of is a sensitive starter, or some kind of fuel problem related to heat. Or is the engine really damaged and locking up when hot?
Cheers
Daniel
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