Overheating Spider

[GLIDER]

I recently started my 82 spider and let her run to find that the radiator fan didn't engage as the engine went into red zone. The water pump had previously been replaced and I checked the levels plus it was burbed with the install so I'm confident that's not the issue. I jumped the fan and it runs fine which lead to the question what is the likely suspect ? Thermostat or the switch ? The switch has been replaced a few years back but has maybe at most 1,000 miles on it. Need to drive her more

[mbouse]

well, i'd take another look at the air pocket removal procedure... betting that the reason the fan did not go on was because the bottom of the radiator did not get hot due to lack of coolant flow.

[GLIDER]

thanks, I'll do it but I have a flush tee cut into the heater hose and it full @ the tee.

[pope]

are you sure you put the thermostat on correctly.

[barnesjtsl]

I have a 79 Spider. I put the tee in the heater hose filed it to the top and still had the air bubble problem.

For me the way I got rid of the air pocket, and I'm not sure if this is the same with the 82's or not but. On top of the tee connected to the front of my engine at the top of the timming belt cover is a drain plug. I had to jack the front of my car up about a foot, pull the drain plug and fill it with coolant from there. Filled it once and the air pocket was gone.

jtslbarnes

[kuhndg]

Mike is right, International Auto has a Tech bulletin that will help.

[rlux4]

If the bottom of your radiator and the bottom hose don't get hot, then you have an air pocket under the stat where the hose comes up from the bottom of the radiator. Check the whole coolant filling tech sheet from IAP, including the hole in the stat:
http://www.international-auto.com/fiat- ... in-cam.cfm
I could not get that pocket of air out when I changed my stat, so I drilled the little hole (1/8") and it works like a charm.

Ron