killed my gti??

1. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

   #1 27th February 2011, 18:26

   think i ruined my gti... on motorway today in traffic today and noticed my temperature went sky high right up to the red...
   
   i looked in my radiator and the radiator was on, the fan wasnt!!
   
   i undone the bleed cap near the drivers side and it was just steam coming out like a kettle!!
   
   anyone know what may of happened??
2. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #2 27th February 2011, 18:37

   Sounds like its overheated
   
   Fan should have kicked in as the temperature increased
   
   Has it done damage then?
3. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

   #3 27th February 2011, 18:51

   dont know if done any damage starts fine but fan didnt cut in?
4. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #4 27th February 2011, 19:35

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Pug106-GTI dont know if done any damage starts fine but fan didnt cut in?

   Just get your fan looked at then, does it normally kick in ok?
   
   Unless you have done any damage, I wouldnt worry too much
   Get the fan sorted and you should be ok
5. Boyes Regular Poster Joined: Apr 2008 Sheffield Posts: 276 Peugeot 106 GTi, Clio 172

   #5 27th February 2011, 22:01

   Sounds like you've boiled coolant/water in there.
6. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

   #6 27th February 2011, 22:08

   fan has always kicked in fine before... not sure whats up?
   
   guessing i have done damage tho if it went into the red and light came on? =(
   
   how can i find out whats stopping the fan from coming on? whats the most common problem for this
7. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

   #7 28th February 2011, 08:25

   morning bumpp
8. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

   #8 28th February 2011, 08:36

   If you over heated it, need to re bleed the system first, but sound like the head gasket could of gone.
   
   Have you got it hot again since? So the fan kick on? Did it kick on?
9. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #9 28th February 2011, 08:39

   On the motorway airflow will be doing the cooling - not the fan.
   
   Air lock?
   
   Damaged water pump?
10. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #10 28th February 2011, 08:43

    He was in traffic, and if it boils inside the engine it will happen before the fan has chance to kick in.
    
    If the head gasket let go, it will just boil over before the fan kick in.
11. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #11 28th February 2011, 09:25

    i dont get it tho because i changed the head gasket and the water pump etc last year
    
    could it be a blown fuse on the fan? where is the fuse for this?
    
    would it be best to drain everything out and then refill?
    
    is it just the plug at the bottom of the radiator that i undo to drain it all out?
    
    thanks
12. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #12 28th February 2011, 09:31

    Yer check the fuses in the fuse box in the engine bay that where the fan fuse is.
    
    And yer check the fan switch maybe that gone faulty, and try get bleeding as if it did boil there be air in the system now, is there pressure in the Rad?
13. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #13 28th February 2011, 09:33

    Drain the coolant and refill it, make sure it's all bled up properly. Run it stationary and see if the fan starts up at high temp, or if it overheats again. If it does take it to a garage for a cylinder leak test, that will tell you if the gaskets gone. If not it could be the thermostat opening late, waterpump not spinning, radiator blocked up, fan, etc. There's a few different things it could be really
14. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #14 28th February 2011, 09:38

    i am a little confused about my radiator... as right by the filler cap there is a hole a tiny little pin circle one... should this be there? i thought it was supposed to be air tight
15. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #15 28th February 2011, 09:49

    this is the hole that i am talking about on my radiator...
    
    
16. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #16 28th February 2011, 09:49

    Yeah it's meant to be there. It's air tight there will be a valve, once pressure is too high the valve will open and allow pressure to escape throughthat hole
17. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #17 28th February 2011, 09:52

    there is no valve in there mate... its just a hole u can pour water through it!
18. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #18 28th February 2011, 09:57

    The valve is in the cap I think, once the caps on it will cover that hole from The inside
19. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #19 28th February 2011, 10:00

    oh right... you mean the spring ont he cap... once it has to much pressure the spring compresses from the pressure and then allows the water to flow past to the hole?
20. LVC Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Le Mans, France Posts: 976 VTS, Hawkeye WRX, Def90 & Freelander HSE (ex-VTR)

    #20 28th February 2011, 10:00

    Your rad cap has a thermostatic valve in it which closes the radiator below you pin hole - when the temperature gets too hot for the rad then the valve opens allowing the water/steam to pass through the hole. Have a look at your rad cap and you should see that it goes down the neck of the rad bottle to below the hole
21. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #21 28th February 2011, 10:02

    so kinda what i just said? lol
    
    so to bleed it how do i drain everything out without removing the radiator? do i just remove the valve at the bottom right of the radiator(when standing at the front of the engine/car)
22. LeeM Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2008 Liverpool Posts: 7393 Black Corsa C SRi

    #22 28th February 2011, 10:27

    Pop off the bottom rad hose, should all drain out through that
23. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #23 28th February 2011, 10:28

    the one on the right near the drivers wheel?
    
    so just leave that off for a while yeah and then refill with all 3 bleed valves removed
    
    then tighten starting from top rad valve, thermo valve and then back valve?
24. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #24 28th February 2011, 10:30

    but surely the fan should have come on as it went up to the red came down and then went up again and not once have i seen the fan on
25. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #25 28th February 2011, 15:31

    bumppppp
    
    to bleed it how do i drain everything out without removing the radiator? do i just remove the valve at the bottom right of the radiator(when standing at the front of the engine/car)
26. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #26 28th February 2011, 16:23

    looks like its burnt the oil from where it got too hot as checked the dipstick and was dry!
    
    also was a bit of white smoke coming out when i started it for a second, not sure if may just have been condensation as its very cold outside... what could the damage be?
    
    also doesnt seem like its idling properly as it was a little lumpy but may be where theres no water and its cold?? was literately running for a matter of seconds
27. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #27 28th February 2011, 16:51

    I think you killed the head gasket from what you are saying... To drain all the coolent out just remove the bottom hose from the rad and it will all drain out.
    
    So your saying there no oil?? Is there a petroly smell from the rad when you remove the filter lid?
28. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #28 28th February 2011, 17:36

    no mate cant say there was a petroly smell
    
    i only put a new mls gasket on last summer and its not been used over 3 months
    
    its more likely the head cracked/warped than the gasket i would say? as mls gaskets are quiet strong arent they?
29. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #29 28th February 2011, 17:55

    Yer but if you warped the head then you will need to replace the gasket.
    
    And if you over heat it, it will kill it also, head gasket/ head bolts shouldn't be re used.
    
    But it not the fact you only replace it last summer, but it over heated.
30. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #30 28th February 2011, 17:57

    Dnt think the head cracked could off but unlikely. More like you over heated the car, warped the head, which means the head gasket will need changing, the head skimming.
    
    But can't say for sure, as only going off what your saying.
31. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #31 28th February 2011, 18:13

    ok mate, so head needs coming off and then pressure testing right?
32. user_10176 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jun 2006 Ramsey st marys, peterborough Posts: 8288 Saxo's, Corsa (Daily)

    #32 28th February 2011, 18:19

    I dnt know with out having a look it always hard to give a correct answer.
    
    But from what your saying you need to take a look at the g
    Head gasket area.
33. ChAdS Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1385

    #33 28th February 2011, 18:24

    Do what everyone else seems to be doing now days get it running then sell it as MINT condition engine running SWEET!
34. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #34 28th February 2011, 18:29

    rather put a different engine in it than sell it!!
35. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #35 2nd March 2011, 15:23

    i have just been to have a look at my car i removed the thermostat as the heater matrix isnt in at the moment anyway
    
    i rebled the water but when running you just get white smoke now
    
    does this mean that its head gasket problem?
36. user_38811 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2009 Sawtry Posts: 3456 Saxo VTS Saxo VTR

    #36 2nd March 2011, 15:31

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Pug106-GTI i have just been to have a look at my car i removed the thermostat as the heater matrix isnt in at the moment anyway i rebled the water but when running you just get white smoke now does this mean that its head gasket problem?

    Yeh as andysaxo knows, my VTS overheated on the way back from a EA region meet the other month and cooked the headgasket then
    
    Drove it home slowly and there was white smoke coming out the exhaust even when engine was warm
37. Pug106-GTI Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Kent Posts: 755

    #37 2nd March 2011, 15:32

    would the block itself be ok? i will only need to do the head gasket and get the head skimmed wouldnt i?
38. ChAdS Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1385

    #38 2nd March 2011, 18:21

    If i was replacing headgasket i would change everything else while im at it but thats just me.
39. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #39 2nd March 2011, 18:52

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by devilsadvocate Sounds like its overheated

    Sherlock Holmes !!
40. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #40 2nd March 2011, 19:08

    sounds like the HG failed causing it to overheat rather than the other way round. When theres a gas leak in your cooling system it will push the water lever down so that the fan temperature switch in the rad is uncovered and doesn't work [just when you need it most]
    
    Also somebody said that the rad cap has a thermostat in it, I always thought it was just a spring that lifts up on excess pressure like a pressure cooker, or when theres too much water in, it bleeds off.
    
    The drain plug at the bottom of the rad near the passenger wheel is enough to drain the rad. The white smoke you see is water exiting the exhaust pipe after having been through the engine