Important! : VTS Overheating (not just when stood still)

  1. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #1
    I just bought my first Saxo VTS over the weekend and already I am having overheating problems. I noticed after the first day that the temperature gauge is constantly moving between the half way point and red. The needle never stays in one place!

    I have to put the heaters on full blast to stop it from overheating. When the heaters are on I can smell a faint burning of rubber or something of that sort, really isn't that strong a smell though (may be none related)

    I also noticed a couple of times just as I fire her up what I can only describe as the sound of water swooping around.

    Please please Saxo lovers help a first timer out
  2. Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2004 Denny United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 666 Ford focus 2.0 Saxo VTS
    #2
    check termostat bleed the coolant system , check radiator fans
  3. L-plater Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 89
    #3
    There's guys on here that are well more experienced than me, so they'd know better, But Have you check ur coolant level ??
  4. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #4
    Oh I forgot to mention that the engine-management light has also come on
  5. Established Member Joined: Jun 2007 Belfast Posts: 1001 red 1.0 wonder
    #5
    head gasket
  6. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #6
    Yeah I was really worried it might be that. Great headgasket, that won't be cheap
  7. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182
    #7
    thats probley the reason the person sold the car was the engine management light on when you got the car ?
  8. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #8
    No the engine-management light wasn't.

    I drove it back from Carlisle to mine which was 225 miles. The engine management light came on probably after I had done 300 miles.
  9. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #9
    Sorry I am really useless when it comes to doing anything with engines but is there an easy and conclusive way of checking if it definitly is the headgasket?
  10. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182
    #10
    oh mmmm
    take it was from a private seller then a trade dealer- otherwise ram it through there window ha.... im not sure wether engine management light come on if HG gone. it didnt on my mums 106 when her HG went.. if not try bleeding the system and change thermostat as there quiete common to make the car over heat... if its getting stuck or dont open properly, have you got heating and also you checked under you oil cap and in you rad ?
    it could be HG but try the cheaper bit first as that dont cost. but you can always try a HG tester to make sure
  11. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Jabtista View Post
    Sorry I am really useless when it comes to doing anything with engines but is there an easy and conclusive way of checking if it definitly is the headgasket?
    - check under your oil cap for any mayonaise looking stuff
    - check under you rad cap for gunk
    - are your heaters working ?
    - also hows your car running ? lumpy and lose of power
    -also can get a HG tester which goes over where your rad cap goes on
  12. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #12
    The heaters seem to be working fine.
    I'll go and check the oil cap in a minute and get back to you on that.
    The car seems to run fine. When I give it a bit of right foot action it goes like stink and isn't lumpy. Even driving normally she seems to run alright.

    Off to check the rad cap and oil cap now.
  13. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #13
    Oil and rad cap are both clean.

    No mayo looking substance on the oil cap at all.

    Although fired her up again just to have a listen and she does sound rough now and the engine is knocking about.
  14. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #14
    By the way Adam your car looks the awesome!

    Nice work!
  15. Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx
    #15
    Did you buy trade or private? Take it back if its trade.
  16. Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2010 bournemouth Posts: 272 ph2 clio 172
    #16
    the h g will go f you keep overheating it try bleeding it

    maybe waterpump gone????
  17. Newbie Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 10
    #17
    Gonna bleed the cooling system now

    Sadly I did buy it private
  18. Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2010 bournemouth Posts: 272 ph2 clio 172
    #18
    theres 3 bleed nipples
    1 on top of the rad
    2 a 8mm bolt on top of the thermostat housing
    3 a valve cap on a water pipe just above the ecu next to the manifold
  19. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Harlow, essex Posts: 2731 Clio 182
    #19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Jabtista View Post
    By the way Adam your car looks the awesome!

    Nice work!
    thanks mate


    try bleeding the system as said theres 3 nipples to do.... as atm you aint got much of a sign for HG..... but check everything else before incase its something like bleeding it ect... or water pump..... my car used to over heat quiete bad after bleeding it- well checking everything done a HG test and wasnt that- mine turnt out to be the rad cap- someone told me that could be the problem so change that and it- the cap mine had was differant from standard for some reason.. but make sure your temperature doesnt go up to the red as that can cause HG...
  20. Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2010 bournemouth Posts: 272 ph2 clio 172
    #20
    trying bleeding it when cold starting from the lowest bleed nipple
    then warm the car up and bleed again just remember its gonna be hot