Overheating

1. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

   #1 10th November 2011, 20:05

   My car likes to overheat whilst in stopped in traffic, causing the little light to come on!
   Kinda makes me poop myself!
   anybody got any ideas as to what this could be?
   
   many thanks
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 10th November 2011, 20:12

   Does your fan kick in at all?
3. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

   #3 10th November 2011, 20:44

   yeah it does, sounds like shes going to take off!
4. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #4 10th November 2011, 20:49

   I had this in my 1.4 is there any oil or oil stains down the left side of the engine block?
5. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

   #5 10th November 2011, 20:51

   If i remember correctly there is, but cant be 100% sure without looking!
6. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #6 10th November 2011, 20:57

   When you get a chance check it, i had that then i looked in the radiator cap and found alot of brown slime which the garage then told me was oil because the head gasket had failed, hopefully your problem is something little like a thermostat.
7. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

   #7 10th November 2011, 21:03

   i topped the water up in my engine the other day (about 2 weeks ago lol) and dnt recall seeing any 'brown slime' but as i said before cant be sure! i will have a look at work 2moro when i get 5 minutes and see what i can do, my mate said it could be the therostatic valve aswell, so hopefully it is!
8. user_54159 L-plater Joined: Aug 2011 Streatham, London Posts: 37 MK1 Citroen Saxo 1.4i SX

   #8 10th November 2011, 21:03

   fingers crossed mate!
9. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

   #9 11th November 2011, 20:05

   didnt get a chance to look, works stupidly busy atm! hopefully il get a free 10 minutes on my 'day off' 2moro to have a look!
10. Low-n-Saxslow L-plater Joined: Nov 2011 Dorset Posts: 67 Saxo VTR & Suzuki Swift Sport

    #10 12th November 2011, 20:57

    Most likely a sensor if the heads ok.
    You could always try to counter-act the problem by changing coolant and investing in a front mounted oil cooler to keep oil temp at 80.
11. Low-n-Saxslow L-plater Joined: Nov 2011 Dorset Posts: 67 Saxo VTR & Suzuki Swift Sport

    #11 12th November 2011, 20:57

    Its a bit of a toy to be fair, let us know what the check up shows.
    
    Fingers crossed.
12. Aar0n-17 L-plater Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 52 Saxo 1.4 VSX

    #12 12th November 2011, 21:50

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by michaelgrimes my car likes to overheat whilst in stopped in traffic, causing the little light to come on! Kinda makes me poop myself! anybody got any ideas as to what this could be? Many thanks

    
    
    my 1.4 done this, all it was, was the thermostat, £10 job hope it works mate
13. michaelgrimes Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2011 West Sussex Posts: 129 MK2 Posi Blue VTR

    #13 14th November 2011, 21:20

    there is a little bit of oil down the left hand side of the block :/
14. Ben_SaxoForte Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project

    #14 14th November 2011, 21:35

    headgasket is common to go on the left side of the block, not sure if that will be related to the overheating though could be.
15. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #15 14th November 2011, 21:48

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ben_SaxoForte headgasket is common to go on the left side of the block, not sure if that will be related to the overheating though could be.

    
    +1 8v saxo engines are known for the head gasket seeping oil down that side.
16. AdamH Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2004 South Posts: 3638

    #16 14th November 2011, 21:58

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by michaelgrimes i topped the water up in my engine the other day (about 2 weeks ago lol) and dnt recall seeing any 'brown slime' but as i said before cant be sure! i will have a look at work 2moro when i get 5 minutes and see what i can do, my mate said it could be the therostatic valve aswell, so hopefully it is!

    
    how much water did you top it up with? as chances are you may have an airlock if it was a fair bit as air gets trapped in the top hose as it sits higher then then expansion tank..
    
    might be a minor one or it might be a massive airlock.. can you hear running water when its started up? and idling in the mornings? if so thats an airblock and needs bleeding (see my guide under the engine section)
    
    this time of the year can cause thermostats to die also...
    
    Does your heatermatrix put out hot air when water and oil is up to temp or does it stay cold? if it stays cold trying testing the strength of your antifreeze and if low top it up with that... bleed and repeat
17. KrisB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405

    #17 14th November 2011, 23:33

    Hi Michael,
    
    I'm obviously local to you (Based just outside rusper). If you need the car looked at, or fixed for a much more competetive price than anywhere else then give me a shout. If you can't get over to me then i can outsource recovery for £1 per mile.
    
    Feel free to PM me or visit my website below.
18. Grant187 Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Stone Cross Posts: 184

    #18 15th November 2011, 04:06

    iv got abit of oil seeping down my block :/ it does blow hot air tho when running & my temp is a good gauge ???
    
    does this mea anything ?