(new owner please help) 1.6td overheating issue

[damongrounsell]

The moose, 1989 1.6td over heats when working hard, ie up hill, 100km/h etc... if I turn the heating on she doesn't over heat.
my family and I just had to drive at 80km/h 300miles to get back home with the heating on to keep the engine cool, the kids slept very well I WAS SWEATING LIKE A PIG.
anyway the needle gets half way the the light flashes, I slow down the needle drops just below half way and the light flashes until I stop and restart her.
What could be causing the over heating, I think it could be a radiator issue, clogged up with crud and maybe just needs cleaning and refilling. I guess changing the coolent would be a good idea anyway, not sure when changed.

please any help and suggestions would calm my troubled soul, wife doesn't have much faith in my technical abilities and I don;t yet, haynes manual arrives tommorow from amazon.

its an import LHD with a speedo in kilometers thus the speed in kph, my mind has already ajusted.

[wigg1]

1/dose the electric fan cut in
2/ Red light flashing is coolant level sensor as the engine runs quicker it draws in more coolant check the level in the header tank .
3/ halfway on temp gage is about right
Hope this helps
wiggy

[Fritz]

From what you have told us, where the temperature can be controlled by using the heater and reducing speed sounds to me like a water circulation problem.
But where to start is another question....
I' would first of all take a look in both the top up tank (behind the flap) and the header tank (in the engine compartment) to see if there us any thing that may help with the diagnosis.ie bits floating about, oil residue etc etc.
Then I would be draining the water system and checking the antifreeze content as too much will not help and can contribute to overheating problems.
Removing and checking the operation of the Thermostat or simply replacing it may be a good idea, and while in the engine room check all small diameter hoses by blowing or poking some blunt thing through them to ensue they are clear.


I'm sure members will suggest various other things to have a look at. Good luck with your problem.


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,

[windysurfer]

I had the same sort of problem with mine.My rad fan was not kicking in
Can you hear the rad fan coming on.(couldn't hear mine due to engine noise!!) It should come on when the needle is just above the red light. You can check if the fan is working by shorting out the sensor the bottom nearside on the rad.
If you change the thermostat make sure you use genuine VW one.

[robbooth2000]

Hi, my 1989 1.6td Westy hi-top has just started leaking coolant whilst on holiday in Scotland and is awaiting diagnosis in a garage in Fort William, do you definitely not have a leak? I would appreciate some advice from anyone who has had the same problem....having read some posts I have a feeling it could be corroded cylinder head bolts. Any ideas would be appreciated!

[Fully Loaded Cali']

Hi,

Check your water pump - sounds like the issue. If you going along then cold air is drawn into your rad and you don't need the fan to come in. Fan only comes in when you stationary or crawling in traffic.

Ian.

[damongrounsell]

further information

Instead of looking at the top up tank, i looked in the expansion tank, it seemed rather empty so I put another litre of coolent in the tank and sealed it up and went for a drive. The temp guage went up to half way and then when stayed there, just slightly above half way up hill at 70mph but didn't seem to budge above that an no sign of red light flashing, it must therefore have been low on coolent and at the light flashing to wanr me of that. Other than that the radiator and other systems should be fine. I guess I need to look out for a leak in the coolent system somewhere. On previous cars this often seems to be the water pump leaking, is this a common problem?

[toomanytoys]

If the expansion tank was low then the system is low... you need to fill it to the brim run the engine and bleed the system.... I would guess there is a lot more than 1 or 2 L missing... The system holds around 18L of coolant...

The flashing red light does not mean overheating (not unless the gauge is accross to the right too... it means low coolant as well... the gauge should sit somewhere around the middle on the gauge...

There are a lot of connections on the cooling system and any one could be leaking...

[damongrounsell]

where are the bleed valves on a 1.6td, I guess one must be on radiator and one near the engine coolent?

[wigg1]

Top left as you look at the rad
All the best wiggy

[Plasticman]

Mine had simmilar problems and a new header tank cap cured it
Mike