1.2SX Overheating Problem

[Fallen Angel]

My mum has a 54 plate 1.2 SX that in the past few months has been overheating badly, temp gauge going over 110, water going down very quickly.
I don't get to see her very often as she lives an hour or so away so the last time i looked at it when it had cooled right off, i sat with the car running, watched it go over 100 and the fans didn't come on.

Would this be the fan switch?

 

[dozza.13]

If its been happening for a while then it could have caused a bit of damage! You say the water goes down rapidly, is it mixing with the oil at all? Is there any white goo inside the oil filler cap when you take it off? Does the car produce lots of white smoke when driven? How come she hasn't had it looked at by a garage/mechanic yet?? Could be the fan switch, how long did it take for it to get really hot? Could be the thermostat playing up, and not opening up once the engine is warm?

 

[Fallen Angel]

No sign of head gasket going, no goo, no smoke no nothing, she doesnt drive the car a lot as she is retired, has been this this for a couple months now, but had barely used it, has not been able to get to a garage as has not been well and also just moved house. I'll check the thermostat too, it took about 5-10 minutes standing still just revving it a little to get it up to about 90and then slowly crept over after that

 

[dozza.13]

Hmm, would definitely check those 2 first, could even be a coolant leak! Would explain why its going down so much!

 

[Fallen Angel]

I thought it was going down because the fans were not kicking in, temperature getting too high and it evaporating. There are no sign of leaks, cheers for helping, i've told my dad to do the test on the thermostat before i get the fan switch, which there is a choice of 2, 2 pin and 3 pin! Any idea what the difference would be?

 

[dozza.13]

Nope, haven't a clue, sorry! Sure someone on ere will tho! Come on fella's.............

 

[Yella Beeza]

Another similar recent post -

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=135356

except no coolant loss it seems.

Are you sure it's not getting so hot it's running into the expansion tank and escaping that way? Wouldn't be due to evaporation. Any pools under the car? Does the fan actually switch on? Water pump leaking? Lots of possibilities here. Could still be a blown cylinder head gasket though if there's no evidence of leaks.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Not sure where to go from here guys, new fan switch fitted, is still overheating and loosing coolant, no sign of holes in hoses, no puddles

Could the water pump be siezed or something like that?