Another MK3 Golf overheating - HELP !!

**Denarius** · 12-05-2007,11:27 PM

Hi, we've just bought 93 Golf as we were after something reliable and not full of electronics (so I could still do something on the car

).
Anyway 2 weeks later and its just started to overheat so have joined the forum and here is my first post.
Temp gauge heads up very quickly when idling but cools down when driving. Tried to bleed system by taking cap off expansion chamber and 'burping' top hose, revving etc. Had some air come out but not much. Doing a few unusual things though. It seems to build temperature/pressure slowly at first (this is when engine already hot), sucks water in when revved etc and then just wells up quickly and overflows expansion chamber. Another weird thing is that the top hose does not seem to be have any pressure in it ( actually it's all the hoses), even when the expansion chamber is at boiling point, the hose is very easy to squeeze together -although it is very hot, so getting something. Also the fan hardly ever comes on even when the gauge is at 110 degrees! (it does come on sometimes though - so it does work). Have checked oil filler cap and no mayonaise so fingers crossed. Last sympton is that the heater doesn't generate any heat. So, does this sound familiar to anyone? I thought thermostat but I can't figure out where this is housed.
Thanks in advance for any help.
D.

**Coupe16v** · 12-05-2007,11:51 PM

I think you need to have it pressure tested. This could tell you if the head gasket is leaking exhaust gases into the coolant system. This happened to a car I once had.

**shooey88** · 13-05-2007,12:04 AM

is there water flow....take the return pipe off the expansion bottle and see if water flows through it back to the expansion bottle. seems as if you have no flow of coolant through your circuit!!!!!!!!!!!! looking at broken water pump or thermostat causing poor circulation.
are all the pipes hot? any of them cold when the car is up to temperature and warm?
is the tmperature gauge reading what it should....for example have the engine temperature tested to see if matches the actually heat of the engine...being a possible faulty temp sensor
all my ideas for u

**Denarius** · 13-05-2007,12:13 AM

Thanks for the replies. I think it has got water flow as when I rev the engine with the expansion chamber lid off I can see the water being sucked in. All of the hoses are hot.
Would anyone know if you can put the head leak additives in these or does it muck up the computer management?
cheers
D.

**shooey88** · 13-05-2007,12:17 AM

if it "sucks" takes in coolant...that dosent mean its flowing
that just means it is going one way
is the small thin pipe near the top of the expansion bottle flowing water back into the expansion bottle when engine reved?

i dont understand what ur getting at wiv your last comment.

**Denarius** · 13-05-2007,12:26 AM

I'll check the flowback on the small pipe tomorrow.
I'm a NZ'er and over there you can get a Stop Leak type additive you put into the cooling system that seals up small head leaks. I haven't seen it here yet but I haven't looked for it either. I just assumed you could buy it here.
D.

**shooey88** · 13-05-2007,12:31 AM

never used the stuff before....i have used leak additive that you put in the coolant to illuminate where a leak is coming from then you solve the leak manuaully urself.
i heard new zealand are desperate for mechanics? lol

**Denarius** · 13-05-2007,11:42 AM

Hi again shooey. Looks like you're right, the water is not flowing back into the expansion chamber via the small hose. Does that mean that it was just a vacuum sucking the water in then? So, a water pump then!
And no they're not short of mechanics in NZ, just short of money so everyone has a go a being a mechanic

.

**shooey88** · 13-05-2007,11:47 AM

did you rev slightly, while at the same time seeing if water runs through the pipe? you have to apply revs to get the water pump spinning faster....may need two people for the job....by the way becarefull not to scold urself if it does flow through btw!!!!!!!!!

if now coolant/water flows through that suggests water pump or thermostat faulty...can you hear a rattle/noise from the cambelt area where the water pump is to suggest its broken?

iv heard theres more sheep then people in new zealand....so maybe thats why the cars arent getting fixed lol