My temperature warning light came on when car cold

[trousdala]

Hi I have a 51 plate golf mk 4.

I have been on holiday twice this recently for 1 week at a time.
This morning when i went to start my car after driving no more than 150 meters my temp warning light came on. All the levels are ok, does this point out a sensor problem or could it be anything else?

Thanks in advance for info/advice......

[Vag-Alloys]

Check your water level (when cold!!!!). On some models, the warning light will come on when the water level is low.

If it is low, keep an eye on that light. If it comes on again, youre loosing water somewhere?!

[trousdala]

Thankyou for you speedy response. I have just checked the water again (i did it before first holiday) and the level was low. It must be losing water from somwhere, however there seems to be no leek under the car??

Again thanks for the reply.

[Vag-Alloys]

It would probably be better if it was leaking under the car as it may be internal.

Just keep an eye on that light and hope 4 the best!! GL!

[chris.fulton]

Just to add, if the warning light is amber then that means the coolant level is low, if the light is red then it means the car is overheating

[trousdala]

It was the red light that was on but the coolant level was low and the temp gauge stayed at a steady 90 as normal. When i topped up the header tank the light went out?

I have checked the level this morning and it seemes to have dropped about 5-6mm. I topped up the car to maximum this morning and drove about 25 miles the car drove as normal (no loss in power etc) and the temp again stayed exactly 90 all the way.

I cannot be sure but there does not seem to be a leek under the car.

If the leek was internal, what might it be?

Thanks if anyone can help.

[eko]

It could be the head gasket. If you open the oil filler cap is there off white stuff on the cap that looks like mayonnaise?

Ed

[trousdala]

Having left the car the rest of the day in my dry garage i can see that it is the radiator that is leeking (was abit damp this morn so could not locate it).

I will try some rad seal on it see if that works.

Thankyou for the responses.

[keith.laughlin]

Hi Trousdala,

I as driving home from work yesterday and my car's red temp ligt came on, i switched the engine on and off again and it disappeared. But i was leaving the house this morning and it came on again. Restarted it again and it went off again.

I topped it up with water but was just wondering if you got your problem sorted ok?

Thanks

Keith

[trousdala]

Yeah i did cheers pal.

I did not try the rad seal in the just got a patent radiator for £60. Its fine now, but looking at the radiators (original and new) they seem really flimsy and look as though they are not built to last.

Good luck with yours.