FUBAR'd diesel engine ???? SORTED :-)

Post by **Louey** » 06 May 2008, 20:22

The van started to overheat this morning on the way to work. I topped up the water and managed to limp to work. On the way home it was overheating again, I managed to limp to Volksbits and get a new Thermostat thinking it might be that - overheating, no heater heat.

Fitted it outside the shop - frellin pain to fiddle back in.

Anyway, got home let the engine cool a bit, had tea. Went to have a look at the problem. I bled the system to check it wasn't that, rad was cold, fan didn't kick in at all. Found a leak on the pipe going to the thermostat - undid the clip wiggled it tightened clip back up. re bled system, still overheating.

THEN spotted a pool of water underneath on the left of the engine bay. Water was pishing out of a tiny hole in the BIG round thing in the picture. Is this fatal??

[IMG:800:600]http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f50/l ... LD0393.jpg[/img]

Post by **kevtherev** » 06 May 2008, 20:24

core plug leon...

Post by **Louey** » 06 May 2008, 20:27

cheers Kev, any idea if it can be replaced?

Post by **andysimpson** » 06 May 2008, 20:39

Louey wrote:cheers Kev, any idea if it can be replaced?

Yes very cheap and easy repair.

Post by **Louey** » 06 May 2008, 20:45

Thanks Andy.

Is an easy part to get (would VW have one on the self?) or will I have to wait for the part to be delivered??

Post by **andysimpson** » 06 May 2008, 20:47

Very unlikely to have one on the shelf, should think overnight.

Post by **Rozzo** » 06 May 2008, 22:13

they're just a piece of thin metal with a rim louey(bit like a jamjar lid),, they're there for safety if the engine should freeze,, it's supposed to push them out as the ice forms to stop the block from cracking.
knock something through it and lever it out,, then knock a new one into the hole. i usually smear the outer sealing edge with a bit of hermatite or something

Post by **R0B** » 06 May 2008, 22:50

use a socket of the same size as the inner bit to knock it in.(and a hammer of course)

Post by **ringo** » 07 May 2008, 07:33

Happened to me on my A series MG engine due to excessive thrashing.

Been having fun Louey?

Thats is good news - i see a title like that and think "not another one".

Ringo

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 07 May 2008, 08:09

Gently and carefully tap a screwdriver through to hole and lever it outwards .... knocking it inwards may result in it sticking somewhere it shouldn't ... they're only tapped in with a hammer.

Had one go on the 2.0i Sierra many moons ago.

Ian.

Post by **Louey** » 09 May 2008, 19:19

I'm getting someone to fix the van tomorrow (haven't got time to sort it myself). We checked the old thermostat from the engine bay last night and it wasn't working, so hopefully that was the cause of my problems.

However, the fan never kicked in when it was overheating so that will be something else to check.

I managed to get the core plug from GSF Oldbury - typically its a 80p part that is a pain to sort out, reminds me of the starter motor bushes on petrol vans

All being well I'll have a well van tomorrow

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 10 May 2008, 10:36

Rozzo wrote:they're just a piece of thin metal with a rim louey(bit like a jamjar lid),, they're there for safety if the engine should freeze,, it's supposed to push them out as the ice forms to stop the block from cracking.
knock something through it and lever it out,, then knock a new one into the hole. i usually smear the outer sealing edge with a bit of hermatite or something

Nearly, they are there to let the sand out from when the block is cast, the safety freezing thing is a cool bonus.

Post by **Louey** » 10 May 2008, 16:05

right, core plug has been replaced!! Not much water came out of the block and when the pipe to the top of the block was taken off it didn't drip much

An airlock causing me grief then

Also, my mate stuck the thermostat in some boiling water and it didn't open much, is this normal?? It was newly fitted on Tuesday evening.

Things are still gloomy, I've got no electric feed when I turn the ignition on. Battery has plenty of power. It did this a few weeks agi then suddenly worked.

I turn the ignition to on, press and hold the button for the glow plugs and I hear a click and the lights go out and no power. Sometimes the dash lights will come on when I return the key, sometimes not. BUT now they won't come on at all. Where should I be looking?? Battery live and earths look OK, can't see any blown fuses.

BUGGER BUGGER BUGGER

Post by **Mocki** » 10 May 2008, 16:16

ignition switch, or bad battery connection by what you have said.....

Post by **ELVIS** » 10 May 2008, 16:18

when i first tested one in the past (first water pumper) and put it in boiling water it did not do much and i thought it was buggered .

dangle it on a piece of cotton tied to a wooden spoon resting across pan and boil water from cold (just like how an engine would) and it will open properly.

dunno if bunging it straight into boiling water sends it into a fit or something