Engine Temp OK or overheating???? - SV650.org

06-09-05, 09:55 AM

Hi guys,

Hate to start another temp thread but....

Normally my K3 650 sits religously at 90 temp mark, but last night after a motorway run of about 60 miles at 60-90 mph into London.

When I got into the centre and got snarled up in traffic the temp started to rise upto 119! It was a warm evening so I let it cool down for a while, on the rest of the trip the bike went back upto 114 and would dip down to around 100 ish if you started to move on a open streach of road.

Didnt hear my fan come on so will check the connection later..

This normal guys??? Or does it sound like my fans not kicking in??

Dop any of your 650's go as high as this?

I know the book says upto 120 is fine but I've never seen mine go so high.

Am going to take a run to the nearest dealer to get it checked tomorrow about a 10 min ride across London...

Cheers
Kieran

06-09-05, 10:25 AM

Sounds like fan isn't working right/at all, especially if you didn't hear it come on. Never had my SV up to that even on a hot day at low speeds around town... still within what the good book says, but there should be a safety margin.

Maybe try running it while parked up and see when/if the fan comes on. Have you checked the coolant level?

06-09-05, 10:50 AM

Was going to check the coolent at lunch time, where is the expansion tank located on the new model?

BillyC · 06-09-05, 11:23 AM

This is most likely to be a sensor problem. Chutz had something similar last year.

On the K3, there are two temperature sensors... one for the display, and one for the radiator fan.

The one for the display, which is painfully located deep in the bike, is prone to going wrong.

One key way for finding out is, when the bike is cold and has been standing for a few hours, turn the bike on (but not the engine), and see what the temperature is.

If the sensor is knackered, it'll give you a reading, probably 30-50 degrees. If it's working, then it'll either be blank, or being somewhere in the low 20's (depending on where you parked the bike, how warm the day is, if it's in the sunshine etc).

Worth a check.

06-09-05, 11:30 AM

Right checked the bike!

Scrub the above I know where the expansion tank is! bad day!!

The expansion tank is halfway between empty and full so no prob, and no visable leaks.

Turning the bike on from cold (but not engine) the temp reading says 27, i seem to remember normally it says ---- until it warms up a little from from cold??? anyone confirm this??

The sensor on the radaitor back is plugged in and not loose...

So as Billy C says it sounds like the display sensor had gone!!!

Thanks guys, a trip to delaer tomorrow!

06-09-05, 11:41 AM

Billy C - do you know if this would this display temp senosor stop the fan starting up??

BillyC · 06-09-05, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khewett

Billy C - do you know if this would this display temp senosor stop the fan starting up??

The runs on a separate sensor on the K3/4/5. On the right hand side of the radiator, just above the inlet hose on the radiator (K3), is a sensor switch, which plugs directly into the fan.

06-09-05, 11:55 AM

Once the temp gets into the high 20's (at least on the SV's I've had) it will show on the display - so on a warm day there'll be a figure there when you turn the bike on, on a cooler day it will read --- until it gets into the high 20's, so no probs there.

06-09-05, 12:00 PM

If it's just the display sensor that's failed, the engine may well not be hot enough to even activate the fan.

If the bike was getting that hot, you'd feel it being hotter than usual round your legs. I got caught in traffic on my Sv last year and the temp. climbed to about 115. The fan was running but the temperature wasn't dropping much, as it was one of the hottest days of the year & I was boxed in between loads of cars!

I noticed the temperature on my legs before I even saw how hot it was on the display - worth bearing in mind!

06-09-05, 12:04 PM

possibly then the sensor on the side of the fan is gone, looks OK visualy but that doesnt mean anything!

Guys, when you start the bike but before you turn the engine on (and I've started mine a 1000 times but cant remember my red warning light is staying on (and going out when engine is on) is this normal??

06-09-05, 09:55 AM	#1
Khewett Guest Posts: n/a	Engine Temp OK or overheating???? Hi guys, Hate to start another temp thread but.... Normally my K3 650 sits religously at 90 temp mark, but last night after a motorway run of about 60 miles at 60-90 mph into London. When I got into the centre and got snarled up in traffic the temp started to rise upto 119! It was a warm evening so I let it cool down for a while, on the rest of the trip the bike went back upto 114 and would dip down to around 100 ish if you started to move on a open streach of road. Didnt hear my fan come on so will check the connection later.. This normal guys??? Or does it sound like my fans not kicking in?? Dop any of your 650's go as high as this? I know the book says upto 120 is fine but I've never seen mine go so high. Am going to take a run to the nearest dealer to get it checked tomorrow about a 10 min ride across London... Cheers Kieran

06-09-05, 11:23 AM	#4
BillyC Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The exiles of Kent Posts: 2,184	This is most likely to be a sensor problem. Chutz had something similar last year. On the K3, there are two temperature sensors... one for the display, and one for the radiator fan. The one for the display, which is painfully located deep in the bike, is prone to going wrong. One key way for finding out is, when the bike is cold and has been standing for a few hours, turn the bike on (but not the engine), and see what the temperature is. If the sensor is knackered, it'll give you a reading, probably 30-50 degrees. If it's working, then it'll either be blank, or being somewhere in the low 20's (depending on where you parked the bike, how warm the day is, if it's in the sunshine etc). Worth a check. __________________ SV650 K3 - Gone. Now a member of the SV650.org Kawasaki brigade!

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06-09-05, 10:25 AM	#2
SVeeedy Gonzales Guest Posts: n/a	Sounds like fan isn't working right/at all, especially if you didn't hear it come on. Never had my SV up to that even on a hot day at low speeds around town... still within what the good book says, but there should be a safety margin. Maybe try running it while parked up and see when/if the fan comes on. Have you checked the coolant level?

06-09-05, 10:50 AM	#3
Khewett Guest Posts: n/a	Was going to check the coolent at lunch time, where is the expansion tank located on the new model?

06-09-05, 11:30 AM	#5
Khewett Guest Posts: n/a	Right checked the bike! Scrub the above I know where the expansion tank is! bad day!! The expansion tank is halfway between empty and full so no prob, and no visable leaks. Turning the bike on from cold (but not engine) the temp reading says 27, i seem to remember normally it says ---- until it warms up a little from from cold??? anyone confirm this?? The sensor on the radaitor back is plugged in and not loose... So as Billy C says it sounds like the display sensor had gone!!! Thanks guys, a trip to delaer tomorrow!

06-09-05, 11:41 AM	#6
Khewett Guest Posts: n/a	Billy C - do you know if this would this display temp senosor stop the fan starting up??

06-09-05, 11:55 AM	#8
SVeeedy Gonzales Guest Posts: n/a	Once the temp gets into the high 20's (at least on the SV's I've had) it will show on the display - so on a warm day there'll be a figure there when you turn the bike on, on a cooler day it will read --- until it gets into the high 20's, so no probs there.

06-09-05, 12:00 PM	#9
coombest Guest Posts: n/a	If it's just the display sensor that's failed, the engine may well not be hot enough to even activate the fan. If the bike was getting that hot, you'd feel it being hotter than usual round your legs. I got caught in traffic on my Sv last year and the temp. climbed to about 115. The fan was running but the temperature wasn't dropping much, as it was one of the hottest days of the year & I was boxed in between loads of cars! I noticed the temperature on my legs before I even saw how hot it was on the display - worth bearing in mind!

06-09-05, 12:04 PM	#10
Khewett Guest Posts: n/a	possibly then the sensor on the side of the fan is gone, looks OK visualy but that doesnt mean anything! Guys, when you start the bike but before you turn the engine on (and I've started mine a 1000 times but cant remember my red warning light is staying on (and going out when engine is on) is this normal??