Club 80-90 Forums

I went for a short spin yesterday, about 15km, I hour, in busy inner city traffic in my 1989 LHD T3 1.6TD JX Westy. When I got home and was getting out of the bus, I noticed a waft of hot air coming from the front LH wheel arch. There was also the sound of a fan running. Both front wheel rims were too hot to touch, as was the base of the gearstick. I checked coolant level in the expansion tank and it was fine, as was the temperature. I know it was a hot day yesterday but wondering if this is normal? 

Only time I have experienced something similar to this on another vehicle was seized brake calipers, not sure how hot the hydraulic fluid needs to be before it gives the symptoms you mentioned as another thought.

Likewise. Seized calliper has caused this before for me, but on a different vehicle. 

It’s the radiator fan kicking in , the brakes will be hot and so will the wheels if you’ve been braking etc, only if it’s the wheels so hot it burns your fingers to touch is there likely to be a problem

davidoft1 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 09:17 It’s the radiator fan kicking in , the brakes will be hot and so will the wheels if you’ve been braking etc, only if it’s the wheels so hot it burns your fingers to touch is there likely to be a problem

Thanks David. I was braking a lot and the weather was hot. The wheels did burn my fingers though. I'll have another go tomorrow and check again. I'll have them checked though, just in case. 
 

TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 09:00 Only time I have experienced something similar to this on another vehicle was seized brake calipers, not sure how hot the hydraulic fluid needs to be before it gives the symptoms you mentioned as another thought.

Thanks Tony 

Thought I would add, if it is the calipers sticking they would be putting an extra strain on the vehicle and engine resulting in the engine warming up quicker and the fan kicking in, although the fan would kick in under normal driving conditions anyway when up to the required temperature.  Ref burning of fingers this is likely if you touch the disc etc, i used this test in the past an my finger nearly stuck to the disc so would not recommend it, spray with a small amount of water as an alternative and measure the steam.  The other hint i had with regards to sticking calipers was the vehicle when out and on a slight incline and foot off brake would not roll forward as you would expect it to.

Thanks again Tony. I went on a 12km trip yesterday in light inner city traffic. I tried to use 5he brakes as lightly as possible. When I got back home I touched the wheels again. They were still hot but I could touch them for about 2-3 seconds before I had to remove my fingers. I also tried to push the bus when parked and in neutral. It moved easily enough. 

Hopefully ok in that area then, the heat felt by the gearstick area could be attributed to the fan kicking in, as I believe they suck air through the radiator when on, and I would imagine the resulting hot/warm draught of air would be pushed to the rear of the vehicle passing the gear stick area on its way, only a guess though.

Jack up a front corner and see if you can spin the wheel easily. I don't recall not being able to touch a wheel due to hotness, even through pyranees etc- sounds like sticky brakes to me

Yeah I agree sounds like slightly sticking brakes. I ran my van for a while with no floor matting in the cab or bellow thing on the gear stick, I was amazed at how much hot air came into the cab