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MG MGB Technical - guess the part

Hi

Quick pop quiz.

I found the following in my engine bay.

Generally cylindrical, just over a centimeter in diameter and 3 or so centimeters long. One end is hemispherical (looks like half a ball bearing). The other end has a pair of electrical connectrs (pins in a plastic shround) offset from centre. Towards the electrical connector end is a collar about 2cm in diameter. The whole thing has no threads (looks to be a push fit). It's covered in either caked on dirt or caked on gasket sealant. Seems to be made of copper and a sliver metal (looks to be brazed sections of each). It looks to me like a thermostat, but not the type used on my block (which is also still there!). The engine has ben replaced in the time I've had the car so I'm guessing it's a new addition. Everything in the car seems to work (to the extent that it ever does "work").

Any ideas?

Darren
D Lewis

Darren,

Sounds like a water temperature switch for electric fans - usually fitted in the top of the radiator on rubber bumper cars.
Chris at Octarine Services

Sounds exactly like a water temperature sender I use on my little home made jet (actually I use the gauge to measure oil temp though). Put an ohm meter across the terminals and stick it in a cup of hot water!


Simon Jansen

Stick it in a cup of hot water?! Why?! Does it make good tea?
X

To X, only when you pass 240v AC through it.
R P Shoebridge

i agree with Chris, sounds exactly like the push fit thermostat for the electric fan. top rear of rad, drivers side (UK drivers side!). tends not to seal if you just push it back in, you'll need a new rubber seal to stop it either pushing out again or leaking.
i'm surprised you say everything is working, look for large puddles under the car!

cheers
jon
jon whitehead

'78 B Rubber Bumper. Mine is currently installed in the radiator where it's supposed to be, however, it's not connected (wires broken off inside unit). PO bypassed the sending unit and hard-wired the rad fans to a toggle switch located on the dash. It's further connected to a brown wire @ the fuse box (brown wire at the bottom front end of the box). What's peculiar is when I turn the fans on, the parking lights also come on-not the headlights, just the parking lights. Bought another sending unit(with wires) and will install later before summer starts. I've got to figure out where existing nest o'wires originate and terminate before I tear into anything. I removed the toggle switch for a look-see and noticed it is a 4 pole switich, hooked up to who-knows-where.

Learning every day

shook
shook

There're no pools of water and the fan cuts in fine - I guess the part I found has been rolling around in there for some time, I presume it'a a broken one a P.O. changed without properly disposing of!

Darren
D Lewis

This thread was discussed between 21/03/2005 and 23/03/2005

MG MGB Technical index

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