Beeping and red light on the temp gauge

[mrbubba]

My wife has a mk1 Leon 1.6sx and recently when she starts the car, there's a long beeping noise and a red light flashing on the temp gauge. Its been to the local garage and they can't find any faults.

Another issue we've been having over the winter, is the car not starting. If its moved a couple of feet (when I need to get my car out) it won't start next time. The engine fires up and dies instantly, no matter how much acceleration you give it. The only way to start the car is to keep the accelerator down and keep ignition cranked until it eventually starts and kicks loads of smoke out the back.

Again the garage can't find a reason for this (they've changed a few things to test)

Its a 2005 model with around 50k on the clock and serviced regularly

Any ideas?

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[tobrien1]

Not sure about the not starting problem but I had the same issue with the temp gauge a couple of months ago. Was easily fixed - undo the coolant temp bottle cap (make sure its cold first!). Get an old toothbrush and clean the two prongs that go down into the coolant bottle. That seemed to do the trick for me, never had it beep at me since!

 

[andycupra]

the warning is for the coolant level.
as above, if you remove the expansion tank top you can see a sensor and two metal prongs, the ends of which should be in the coolant.

The coolant allows connection between the two and thus makes the circuit. If the coolant level drops then there is no connect and you get a warning.
You probably find that the light clears after a while, - as the coolant moves around with driving and expands as it warms up so the level rises..

Fixes:
1: if the coolant level is low, top it up. Check the level when COLD. if its in ok range but towards the lower end, top it up so its at the top end of the rane indicated.
2: gently wiggle and clean the prongs, theory being to improve conductivitiy after years of build up.

This of course assumes there is no leak and the coolant level has dropped

let us know how you get on.

 

[rydogg09]

yh i had this problem couple of months back i changed the whole expansion tank wa son £15 job done

 

[LEE69]

Surprised search never brought up the problem

 

[kriso]

Surprised search never brought up the problem

Yea this is a pretty popular fault. I hope the OP didn't pay the garage too much to investigate

 

[andycupra]

yh i had this problem couple of months back i changed the whole expansion tank wa son £15 job done

bit more coolant would have done it

 

[willm190]

I have the same problem with my Ibiza, the level is fine, put VAG through it and nothing..

Just had a look inside the tank but I can't see any kind of sensor ( the bottle looks like it could split in half but couldn't figure out how)

Assuming we have the same tank

How did you go about fixing?

 

[LEE69]

see the electrical connector on the outside? Well, directly opposite that on the inside are the prongs that need scraping, if that fails a new bottle is £15 if that

 

[willm190]

Yeh, the sensor isn't even connected, don't think it is on any mk4?

I checked a few pics on google images :$ and couldn't see any with a sensor on the bottle, the inside of the bottle is blocked by some kind of overflow system so i couldn't get inside it at all, it looks like the tank can split in half though?

 

[LEE69]

No idea on the ibiza tbh best of asking in that area of the forum