Cooling system - maintenance

On the way back from Norway the car decided to chuck out all its coolant and peg the temp gauge at best part of 130ºC. After letting it cool and topping up the coolant everything was fine - but it was a particularly cold night coming back - so possibly just got away with it due to forward motion?

Today I let the car run at idle, part of its static monthly exercise, running up to full water temp and letting the oil circulate.... the coolant gauge again jumped up over max temp and on switch off blew the bulk of its coolant out of the overflow onto the garage floor.

Something then is still not right.

I wasn't really watching it so not sure if the radiator fan cut in when the engine was running.

Tests so far

Confirmed the ECU is seeing a temp reading - check

Used the ECU software to check the ECU could turn the radiator fan on - check

Swapped the fan relay with the aux panel one to confirm identical behaviour - check

Removed the thermostat and checked it opened around nominal 91ºC - check

Next up, monitor the ECU temp reading and see if its seeing the coolant temp rising and see if the fan relay keeps flipping - not sure if that is because the battery is low due to the car not running?

...

Update - sensor replaced issue fixed.

Heater upgrade - 2

Air box for the new fan progressing...

Taken from the paper template then adjusted for even gaps top/bottom to accept rubber trim.

While everyting is in bits, the tunnel heater vents are changing too - rectangular peg into a round hole - but will mean I can reach them when buckled into the seatbelts.

The small cover panel will be at least blacked out and possibly carpeted so shouldn't notice once complete.

That should do the trick.

New ducts, the new vents need 55mm rather than the existing 50mm.

The important bit - just reachable from the seated/belted position.

Heater upgrade - 1

Finally got around to some car work. 

Upgrading the existing heater fan to a squirrel cage from the original axial fan. The axial fan moves air - but can't generate significant pressure - I'm hoping the new fan will improve on that without tipping me over my current budget.

The space I have to work with. The heater radiator hoses will stay outside the air box.

Mocked up the new bracket and airbox to draw fresh air in from above, through the bonnet vents with offset more space on the drivers side where the fan intake will be.

Starting with the fan bracket, 1mm aluminium but seems sturdy enough once the panel has flanges added.

Offered up - looks ok so far.

Some challenges with fouling the pedal box lid bolts - might be as simple as a shortened bolt in the back position.

It's a 3 speed fan - I'm intending just to have one setting - On or Off - no point in finesse of air speed in an open top Zero + avoids any changes to the dashboard controls.

Air box surrounding the lot to follow.

Lysebotn Preview

I really must get around to recording the tail end of the Norway trip including down the side of Lysebotn Fjord.

Underground hairpin

 

More to come.

Heroes of Telemark - Mael and Vemork

The Heroes of Telemark, a great movie based on a true story, Richard Harris, Kirk Douglas - whats not to like. A real adventure with the later scenes based around sabotaging the Ferry which carried heavy water from Mael station to Tinnoset.

A visit to Norway was always going to include Mael and seeing where the Heavy water plant was, this was my must visit location. Of course there's nothing there now from the real events or the movies but perhaps echos of the past somehow recorded in the place.

From Gaustatopen the weather opened up for the drive down the valley, fast straights and hairpins now with the road virtually to myself.

Nothing in the boulder catch nets above us.

At the valley floor a right turn with the railway line, the line that had originally transported materials from Vemork to Mael to be loaded on the ferrys.

Mael Station

There is a train which still runs, but I'm more interested in the train ferrys.

The place apparently is also the first location that had a standard gauge railway - if I remember correctly.

This is the location. In the movie I seem to recall the local school is loaded onto the ferry just after Richard Harris booby trapped it with the intention of sinking the shipment of heavy water, It's a long time since I've seen it though - I recall there is some ruse about practicing evacuation on deck so the kids can be rescued...   

I've also no idea how close the film is to real events.

Signal box... life size train sets, perfect!

Vemork - Heavy water plant location

Headed west along the valley, short stop in Rjukan for supplies - the typical ham/cheese and rolls to make a picnic, and we move off again, blue skies now and much warmer than the top of the mountain!

The road climbs up the north side of the valley, a couple of hairpins, I'm concentrating on the drive but just before a tunnel to my left theres something I immediately recognise.

The back of my neck tingles when I see these places in real life, the pipes down the mountain carrying the water and generating the electricity which was needed for heavy water production. I believe it's a different building now - but... best part of 80 years ago local resistance were on a mission to sabotage this place and disrupt the German production of an atomic bomb.

The sign describing the route the saboteurs took.

More top heavy barns...  but why? Anne thought she saw one with wheels too.

Gaustatopen inside the mountain

Just up the road from Heddersvatn, on the left heading north along the Fv651 is Gaustabanen.

Inside Gaustatopen mountain the 'secret' railway, built in the 50s as a military listening post of some sort takes you right to the top. We knew there wasn't going to be a view today - but its still worth the trip up.

Wrapped up the motor, tonneau on so we've a chance of dry seats.

The view north towards Rjukan and looks like some blue sky for later on.

ex. military on the right with gift shop and tickets on the left...

The diagram at the entrance indicating 1,151m in, 1,800m out, then a short climb outside to the cabin at 1830m.

350m of narrow gauge train - two carriages perhaps 20 of us crammed in,

...then 1050m of inclined railway, two trains counterbalanced and pass in a wider chamber mid rise,

...perhaps 50m walk inside,

...short clamber outside,

...and this is the view from the top (smile)... nope - couldn't see a thing!

I couldn't tell you what this plaque read, the small brass plates had names of Norwegian towns (I think). We didn't go right to the top - combination of inappropriate footware (driving shoes), snow covered path and lack of view.

The cabin at 1830m high showing a warm glow from the windows. 

Also plenty of people arriving who have hiked up.

That waffle was awesome - freshly cooked and full of jam + hot chocolate.

We stayed in here a while, somehow this sort of place feels even warmer when its so cold outside.

Excellent trip,  what's not to like - cars, trains and mountains. 

Ditto procedure to get down, in reverse.