Reassurance on buying my 2nd cupra

[freddy_t]

Hey guys,

Went to look at my second possible cupra yesterday but there was one thing is putting me off.

When the owner started the engine there were 3 beeps (similar to low fuel beep!) and a red flashing light on the coolant temperature guage but both went out after 5 secs or so.

When I questioned the owner on the beeps and flashing light he said it had always done it and he thinks its a dodgy temp gauge where the car thinks its colder outside than what it actually is and it s just warning the driver.

Its a 2002 with 55,000 miles

My first cupra didnt do this thats why its worring me, What do you guys make of this?

Fred.

 

[dav]

he could be telling the truth, but colder outside than it is - no! could be the coolant temp sensor.

could be the water pump impellor broken,

could be the fuse on top of the battery.

got vag-com?

 

[Daz_gibbo]

Coolant level. Might need a new level sensor, they do fail. For that you need the whole bottle. Not that expensive

 

[pdcupra]

i saw one where this happened too, but the owner had no excuse, and not knowing anything about the cars at the time put me off, it may have been the one i went to look at? what colour was it?

 

[Big_Lad]

I've had this in the past. However my problem was not a faulty temperature sensor.

My coolant expansion bottle was below the minimum level causing it to beep incredibly loudly when i started the engine. After I topped it up with some fresh coolant it never came back on.

Worth checking if you haven't done so

Fingers crossed it stays that way

 

[Hairy]

I have the same issue but my light stays on, turning the ignition off and back on again makes it go out. A search has shown this is almost certainly the sensor in the expansion bottle, (less than £20). Does the light definitley go out on it's own without restarting the engine?

Edit:
Some people have found cleaning the sensor sorted it out.

 

[Daz_gibbo]

I won

 

[Hairy]

I won

I must be the world's slowest typer!!! (must learn to use a second finger!)

 

[freddy_t]

Cheers guys, handy info. If i decide to view the car again il be sure to check the coolant level. I dont have vag-com so any other ideas to check while im there?

Its blue in colour, is it the one you viewed pdcupra?

Any other ideas people?

Many thanks fred.

 

[pdcupra]

yeh it was blue, was it modified at all?

 

[freddy_t]

Yeh it had 17" 5 spoke wheels, had a custom back box with oval tail pipe. Also a boost gauge and voltmeter inside where cupra r gauges are.

I forgot to mention when i turned the engine off and re-started it the beeping didnt come on, i didnt check to see if the light was flashing tho..

fred.

 

[pdcupra]

was it in the cambridge area? not sure if the one i looked at had oval backbox, but the problems your stating sound exactly the same as what happened when i went to look at a blue one of that year and mileage!

 

[Forbez]

If the seller wants to sell the car, then put the pressure on him to get it looked at and fixed, before you buy it.

 

[snifta]

mate, if he couldnt be bothered to fix it before you got there, i wouldnt buy it, makes u wander what elses he'd hidden away.

If you get beeps when cold, could be levels.

If yiou get beeps once its hot, then most likely waterpump.

If your ! light flashes when driving with three beeps, brake fluid is low etc.
im not far from camb area if u need help with vagcom / viewing one

 

[Dan Cupra R]

Have u been in it on the road yet? I would make sure to get a road test or at least get the owner to take you out in it to see how it drives.

 

[acidstrato]

if the coolant level sensor is kaput or its low on fluid then it will still flash and beep when the engine has warmed up so it does not mean the water pump has failed.

if the temp gauge starts rising over 90 causing the fans to constantly cut in, it does not mean the water pump has failed!

its just one of those things, if the temp gauge rises, then vagcom it, and if it says the temp sensor is kaput, then you change it. if not...THEN its likely the waterpump has failed, but its still cheaper to rule out the sensors first

 

[pdcupra]

snifta, the one im buying is near cambs, im going to pick it up on saturday 3rd of feb, fancy coming to give it a quick run over with vag com, before i hand over the hard earned cash? il give u a drink for doing it - of course!

 

[freddy_t]

Cheers guys,

Handy info as always! So am i right in thinking to let the engine warm up to operating temp and see if the fan is constantly kicking in therefore its the waterpump?

Check the fluid levels to make sure its just not low on fluid?

And lastly if its not overheating and theres fluid above the indication line then its likely to be a sensor/expansion tank failure?

Anything else I should do to check it over? I havnt taken it for a drive yet as i didnt have the insurance but when I got back I will do.

Cheers fred.

 

[AaronGS]

Hi there. I'm new on here but had my cupra a couple of years now.
It started doing this one really cold winter up in scotland. Light went out after about 1 minute of driving and beeps only on first start up. Had the temp senor cleaned and problem solved.
However the next cold spell (this winter) brought the same problem! Had sensor replaced and it sorted itself for about a week and its back doing it. Cant find anything wrong - levels all correct and temp stays dead at 90 however you drive.
Dunno if that helps mate but as far as i can tell theres no major problem with mine.

Aaron

 

[freddy_t]

hmmmm... handy info Aaron. This is bugging me a little I would like the car asap however i dont want to buy it and find out this is a major problem! Aaron how does your temp gauge sit in heavy traffic at a constant 90?

Thanks