Strange overheating fault

[TheSultanofPing]

Hi, my car started beeping at me today as I was driving and I saw that the water temp gauge needle had hit max. I slowed down and the needle started dropping again. The coolant levels are fine and there's no leaks, but if I go over about 30mph the needle starts to go up again . Also power seems to be rapidly dropping off as well (it doesn't pull in 3rd any more even). Looking through some threads it sounds like the water pump, can anyone confirm this? If it is, how much am I looking at to get it done? Thanks,

 

[Essexcupra]

Dont think its a cheap job if i remember right. Mate of mine done his and cost him fair bit of cash as cam belt has to be done ideally at the same time. But if you've lost power i'd say maybe your headgasket has gone as a result of water pump failure.

 

[meltonlad]

if there is no loss of water then could be water pump. this is a great time to do your cam belt as it all had to come off to do the water pump. water pump is around £30 the major cost comes with the labour. also if you check to see if you have got any warm air through the vents. if only luke warm then will be water pump. to do the full job pump, belt kit and labour i think its around £160 to £250.

 

[TheSultanofPing]

We took the cap off the expansion tank with the car running and coolant was cycling through it at idle but it stopped moving when we revved it. Its gone over to my girlfriends parents house now as her dads an ex vauxhall mechanic and hes going to have a crack at replacing it and the cam belt . Typical really, it was supposed to go to the body shop on tuesday for insurance repairs. I guess I'll be driving the MX5 for a couple of weeks.
I hope the HG hasn't gone though

 

[meltonlad]

when he does the belt get the full cam belt kit. the hg should be fine as you aint losing any water.

 

[ArosaRacer]

Thats water pump, when i had mine it was 350 pounds with parts fitted

 

[TheSultanofPing]

Thanks for the replies

 

[R@B]

Mines is doing the exact same, its going in on thursday to hopefully get the water pump done under warranty. Mines also lost power the first time i noticed it, i think it just went to limp mode as when it cooled down all was fine.