New Problem Any Ideas

[Jazmac]

Car has developed a new problem, following some work i have been doing to it, its now started to over heat.

I changed the thermostat lastnite as i thought that was at fault however never fixed over heat. The top rad hose is supper toasty and the bottom is stone cold, the coolant is back tracking and boiling/bubling out the overspill bottle behind the RHS headlight looking into the bonnet.

I drove it to work this afternoon and it was fine (15miles), driving it back i was stopped at lights 1 mile from my house and a car in the next lane informed me my collant was running down my bumper just after i started to drive again the temp gauge shot up, this was after constantly watching the needle while driving to and from the office, the usual para glance every 2 secs to see where the needle was sitting.

any ideas as im stumped with this one only started to happen 1 week ago. 3 weeks ago i was up north and back in the car easily 1000mile round trip and it was fine.

[jasonb]

It could be a few things!!

Blocked radiator......

Broken water pump.....

Heater matrix......

I would test the radiator first to check water flows through it!!

[Jazmac]

It could be a few things!!

Blocked radiator......

Broken water pump.....

Heater matrix......

I would test the radiator first to check water flows through it!!

Its a new rad replaced only in jan 09. Should mention that on the journy to work both top and bottom rad pipes were toasty, on way home only top.

[colin_ross]

All of the above or a possible airlock.

Flush the system and see is that helps.

[Jazmac]

All of the above or a possible airlock.

Flush the system and see is that helps.

stupid question but how do you flush the system? i have just been squeezing both top and bottom rad pipes to try shift the air.

[jasonb]

Its a new rad replaced only in jan 09. Should mention that on the journy to work both top and bottom rad pipes were toasty, on way home only top.

Well if you have replaced your radiator i dont think the pipes thing matters.....its just telling you there no flow!!! As playsatan says could be airlocked!!!

[Big 'D']

When you replaced the thermostat I am assuming that you topped up the coolant whilst pumping the top hose until the resevoir would take no more fluid? If this is true your system is flushed, this would leave only 2 options either the waterpump has packed up or a head gasket has failed, how long after starting from cold does it take for the water to bubble out of the expansion tank?

Cheers Iain

[Jazmac]

When you replaced the thermostat I am assuming that you topped up the coolant whilst pumping the top hose until the resevoir would take no more fluid? If this is true your system is flushed, this would leave only 2 options either the waterpump has packed up or a head gasket has failed, how long after starting from cold does it take for the water to bubble out of the expansion tank?

Cheers Iain

well i drove to work which take approx 20mins and it was fine as i checked under the bonnet when i arrived, the same journy back it was over heating at least 15mins into driving home.

When refilling the system after fitting the thermostat, i just filled the resevoir untill full and let it gradually seap away constantly filling it back up untill it remained at a full level, then i ran the enginge which drained the resevior which again i constant filled untill full. once full i pumped the both pipes to blow out the air.

[Big 'D']

well i drove to work which take approx 20mins and it was fine as i checked under the bonnet when i arrived, the same journy back it was over heating at least 15mins into driving home.

When refilling the system after fitting the thermostat, i just filled the resevoir untill full and let it gradually seap away constantly filling it back up untill it remained at a full level, then i ran the enginge which drained the resevior which again i constant filled untill full. once full i pumped the both pipes to blow out the air.

Sounds like you topped up the coolant correctly then to avoid air lock (thats not to say there is not an air lock there) , I had a scoob down this way with very simmilar symptoms that turned out to be an air lock even after the system was bled lol. Have you checked for dampness in the carpet at the front of the car ie a leak from the matrix, as mentioned already there are only a few reasons for your problem to occur that are an airlock, failed pump, a leak within the system that creates an airlock or a head gasket failure, if you start the car and watch the expansion tank are bubbles visible?

Cheers Iain

[Jazmac]

Sounds like you topped up the coolant correctly then to avoid air lock (thats not to say there is not an air lock there) , I had a scoob down this way with very simmilar symptoms that turned out to be an air lock even after the system was bled lol. Have you checked for dampness in the carpet at the front of the car ie a leak from the matrix, as mentioned already there are only a few reasons for your problem to occur that are an airlock, failed pump, a leak within the system that creates an airlock or a head gasket failure, if you start the car and watch the expansion tank are bubbles visible?

Cheers Iain

yeah i think there may be bubbles in the tank but i thought that was natural as the collant went round the system. The collant is not showing sign of oil mixed in, nor is the oil white and frothy which i would be the case if there was collant in there, mind you only checked the oil from the dipper.

When the car over heats i turn off the engine and turn on the blower and it seems that there is no hot air when the heater is set to hot however this may just simple be due to the engine not running, as i use this method to cool the engine quicker by drawing hot air when it over heated.

Driving into work this morning i had hot air from the vents, and also last night when testing the car.

[craigdmcd]

There are 2 other ways of bleeding the system well, as pumping the radiator hose does not always work. There is a small pipe that goes vertical just in front of the N/S inlet manifold - it is a little blanked off end. Removing this till water flows out is a good way to bleed the system. Another is to take the intercooler off, remove the upper heater matrix hose, and slowly fill this with water until it flows out of the metal connection above the bellhousing. Try to keep an eye how much it is taking to fill - I think 6 litres is required is the system is empty.

My initial thoughts on your problem were thermostat and waterpump related.

Edited May 14, 2009 by craigdmcd

[Jazmac]

cheers fella gave me a few thing to tinker about with over the weekend to see if its just van air lock. fingers crossed thats all it is.

[Jazmac]

ok drained the system and refilled, bubbles are instant in the expansion bottle, i read above that this was a good sign oh head gaskets gone.

Also when i drained the system i stuck my nose in the header tank to see if i could smell oil, no oil smell however there was a strong wiff of petrol?

i flushed the engine block and rad with a hose, both were running clear with no s**t flowing out so i would rule out a blockage.

Any one add anything else to try or should i just order up the new gaskets? called my local dealer not that big a shock on cost i was plesantly suprised at £49.98 each for CH gasket and £7.18 each for inlet manifold gasket oh and of course the VAT has still to be added by them.