Overheating Problem

[Nick Shaw]

Hi. Wondered if anyone could give us some advice with an overheating problem on my '96Ibiza 1.4i.
I changed the thermostat (with the help of a mate) as it had broken and initially this solved the problem, although a day later it has come back!
After an hour's journey the radiator is stone cold, as is the pipe leading into the bottom of the rad. Meanwhile the one into the top of the rad is boilding hot.
The only way to keep the temperature down when driving is to put the hot heater on FULL!!
Could my new thermostat be faulty or maybe the radiator??
Any help or advice would be appreciated!

 

[Leon1.6se]

Hi, I've got the same problem with mine, I removed the thermostat and ran it without untill I got a new one and it ran fine. I fitted the new one and it overheated again. I think the water pump is good as the coolent seams to be circulating. Think the rad could be blocked?

 

[Nick Shaw]

Yeh. I think flushing out the rad will be the next job!! Mine seems intermittant as today the rad did actually get warm on a journey when yesterday it didn't. I wonder if the new thermostat could be dodgy! Looking at the Haynes manual there's an easty way to test it by submerging it in watera nd then boiling it!!

 

[Fl@pper]

or an air lock ?

if you refill a rad/system after a hose or stat has been changed always make sure the heater is on hot just in case its manually opened and fill the tank with it higher than the top hose

might just be air locked in

make sure you don't get burnt with hot water but be worth a run or two briefly and releasing the pressure build up - watch for the hot water mind

or dare i say the wrong thermostat? or wrong way round ?

 

[Nick Shaw]

Thanks for that. Yeh, can't remember what position it was in when the thermostat was changed. Well worth a try so I will. Cheers

 

[Greasemonkey]

I'm with flapper on this one, very possible to be air locked, if not i'd get a new radiator for it. On a 96 car its probably the original one so its served its purpose over the years.

 

[Nick Shaw]

Thanks a lot. Yeh, on 169,000 now...so maybe borrowed time!!

 

[EssexIbiza1985]

Hi, I had this exact same problem for ages!
Tried taking the thermostat out, getting rid of any air locks, flushed the radiator and also stopped a leak but still had no luck. The next thing I tried was the water pump as I thought the water just can't be circulating.

My advise would be firstly check the thermo is correctly in, then flush the radiator through, then flush the heater matrix through by putting a hose into the upper pipe that goes through to the dash. If water comes through both the radiator and matrix it's unlikely they are blocked. Then try and fill the system again and see what happens making sure the cooling fan comes on when it gets hot enough.

If it still overheats, then change the water pump. The impeller on mine was intact but wasn't attached to the axle, so the pump axle spun but the impeller didn't. Its a bit of a job as you have to take off the timing belt and cam sprocket but it cost me £30 for the pump and took me 2-3 hours. Not bad...

 

[Nick Shaw]

Cheers for that. Bizarrely enough since Monday it's not overheated and I've done anything else!!! I'm keeping everything crossed but fear it will again soon so will no doubt take your advice....or my mate will who knows what he's doing!!! Thanks for the help, it's appreciated