Over heating issue

[paul mitchell]

cars a 2001 Ibiza 1.8 turbo with a FMIC, started her up everything was fine the 5 minutes down the road the car started beeping and the red temperature light on the dash started flashing, so I turned round an got back before the car over heated. When I got back the dial was at the half way point luckily an I managed to turn the car off. Could this be a blown fuse problem? I've changed all 3 fuses on top of the battery but hasn't worked
Any help on this would be appreciated.

 

[Mark D]

travel at 50. Put your foot down and build up the revs. If it goes up then back down with reduced revs its your water pump.

Fan kick in? Maybe corroded fan wires. Common fault on the 1.8T VRS.

Got coolant? Head gasket fail?

If the temp gauge is always on half there is also the common fault on the washer bottle probes getting coated in gunk. Replace the header tank for £13 and job done.

 

[paul mitchell]

Thanks mark, I've changed the 3 fuses above the battery but the problems still there an no the fans wont turn on

 

[Mark D]

easy quick check. To the side of the fan there is a big connector with appox 4 fat wires going into it. They may look ok but give them a pull and may find they detach. Few min job worth ruling out.
There is around 4 connectors in that area so check them all.

Check the relay also. Should be a thread to check something like pin 88 to pin 86 and get X amount of resistance.

 

[paul mitchell]

Thanks Mark, I've been out in it again an after about 15 minutes of steady driving the temperature gauge crept up an stayed at the half way point, The coolant is stupidly low so going to try get some tomorrow, any idea what to use? Weather the fans kick in when the temperature goes over the half way point im not sure but I don't want to risk causing any major problems.

 

[Mark D]

Pink G12 coolant is the VW used one normally. To cover myself i recommend checking the manufacturers spec. If its a good coloured pink as it is id add water. Will reduce your freezing rate but if its strong its likely to be over -30 rating which is the min to manufacturer spec.

If the coolant is below the min line then you will get a red flashing coolant light and it beeping. If its down loads then start looking at why. Usual places are the sump (as the water pump seal would leak coolant down to the sump) and lower hose of the radiator as they tend to go. Look for crusty white powder as thats dried up coolant.

Test the fans you want to get it to temp then idle it for 5 mins and if it goes over 90 then they should kick in. Don't confuse the fans with the a/c fan tho, make sure the a/c is off.

Hope this helps

 

[paul mitchell]

Thanks again Mark, the coolant level is 2 inch under the min line so im praying that's whats causing the warning light. I'm going to top up the coolant tomorrow, il take your advice and check tomorrow, cant do anything now because of the weather, thanks again for your advice though mate you've been a great help.