HELP! Coolant/Overheating problems

**NewbridgeJob** · 04-07-2009,03:04 PM

Hi all, i've got a 97 1.6 A3 which i've been having a few issues with.

Basically it's overheating. When the engine is cold and i check the expansion tank theres practically no coolant in what so ever. When i top it up the tank wont always fill up an it seems to just drain straight away. If i put more in until its in between min and max the car will stay at around about 95 degrees on a 30 min drive, but as soon as i stop, theres steam coming from the tank and basically all the coolant comes gushing out from what i assume is the overflow. That would appear that i've put too much coolant in but doesnt explain why the tank just doesnt fill up at all..

If i leave the coolant as it is even though it's been topped up, the coolant warning light comes on and after about 30 mins i've had the gauge go up to about 110 degrees which isnt good and is also followed by plenty of coolant leaking out. I'ts definately not the head gasket.

Is there any reason as to why this could be happening? Ive searched high and low on forums but nothing has seemed to help. I've left the engine running with the cap off incase there was an airlock but still nothing.

If i top the coolant right up as stated previously, when the engine is left to cool and i check the levels again, it's more or less empty

Any help/advice would be nice

Cheers

**kite** · 04-07-2009,08:57 PM

Jammed thremostat maybe or water pump broken.

**merlin2002** · 05-07-2009,01:23 PM

check your oil filler cap make sure its not covered in what looks like mayo, if thats ok then possibly what the other guy has said

regards
Rob

**Issac Hunt** · 05-07-2009,08:08 PM

Sounds like a waterpump issue maybe?

**NewbridgeJob** · 07-07-2009,11:14 PM

Yeah ive checked the oil cap for the head gasket signs of mayo etc etc.. I left the car to idle and let it heat up to 90.. as it slowly moved towards 95 i felt the top hose which was boiling.. but the bottom one was stone cold.

Am i right in thinking that the thermo is stuck closed and this is root of all my problem?

Thanks for the replies

**olly-c** · 07-07-2009,11:17 PM

iv done 2 vw engines where the impellar had come away from the shaft in the pump, maybe be worth a look, especially with your water not circulating thru the rad, deffo check the stat first tho

**merlin2002** · 08-07-2009,12:15 AM

Originally Posted by olly-c

iv done 2 vw engines where the impellar had come away from the shaft in the pump, maybe be worth a look, especially with your water not circulating thru the rad, deffo check the stat first tho

I second what he said

Rob

**kularm** · 08-07-2009,03:00 PM

I had same issue... was the water pump in the end... replaced it for a nice metal one wwhich cleared me up proper

**olly-c** · 09-07-2009,12:24 AM

how very odd i was brought a tdi golf today with a duff waterpump maybe i should specialize in vw waterpump replacement lol

**jt77** · 17-07-2009,01:40 PM

i'm having exaclty the same problem, was told it was either head gasket blown or crack in the engine block (not by an audi specialist mind) but i don't think thats so cos there's loads of pressure, causing the coolant to gush out of the expansion tank. does anybody have an idea how much it would cost to replace the water pump?