ive got a corsa 1.2. the engine temp gauge keeps going to high, got plenty of water in the coolant. help?

Answer 1

it could be thermostat - looking at the engine if its the 8 valve type on front of the engine to the left there is a pigtail shaped hose that connects the rad to a pipe that goes on to the side of the head - if its the 16 valve type it is in a similar position but the hose is just curved and connects to a flange on the water pump - start the car from cold and feel this hose - the gauge should clime to just before half way then this hose will go from cold to very hot very quickly - if the gauge continues to clime until it hits the 100 mark just before red and the hose is still cold then the thermostat is stuck closed - its in behind the black timing belt cover on the 8 valve type so not too easy - it is the flange i mentioned earlier on the 16 valve type and is easy to fit just the three bolts (e10 socket) and the hose clamp.
if the hose gets hot when it should but it still overheats then it could be the fan switch found on the drivers side of the rad at the bottom disconnect it and cross the two wires to see if the fan kicks in - if not the fan motor is dead if it does it could be the switch - but make sure the bottom of the rad is heating up first as it could be blocked.

Answer 2

"Coolant" means a 50:50 mix of antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) and water unless specified otherwise in your handbook for your specific car. Make sure you use at least 50% antifreeze to top up your container to MAX when the engine is HOT, or MIN when the engine is COLD. BY THE WAY, when you have a plastic container in the engine compartment that says 'engine coolant' on it, you ALWAYS add the coolant to that plastic container, NOT to the radiator. The reason the plastic container exists IS to allow for the EXPANSION of the coolant from the motor and radiator when it heats UP. OTHERWISE you would be dumping COOLANT on the ground when the motor warms up. When the engine heats up, the coolant expands in to the plastic vessel. When the engine cools off, it goes back INTO the engine. That is why you have a MIN and MAX marking on the container. If your engine high temperature light comes ON, you should stop driving immediately and let the motor cool down, ADD some coolant to the system, and then proceed. NEVER open the radiator lid while the engine is HOT. You can get scalded VERY BADLY doing so. ADD the new coolant to the plastic overflow container.

Answer 3

i have a diesel corsa of that age , its quite common for them as well as cavaliers to block radiators with crap due to poor antifreeze with little corrosive inhibitor within it , my radiator its self was was removed and didnt flow one end to the other it was that bad , failing this make sure you hear the fan cut in , pull over during a drive when the temp is high and listen , there should be 2 speeds at varing temps e.g one at 100c the other 105 , 3rdly failing this its the thermostat

Answer 4

first you need to check see your radiator fan are on check while your car running if you fan on most likely your thermostat may ether stuck or someone put higher temperature range thermostat in your car so when the winter time come you have better heat in your car.replace thermostat won't cost you over 15 bucks do it yourself. thermostat 3 or 4 bucks gaskets one buck and anti-freeze around 8 or 9 bucks.
Good luck.

Answer 5

It might be the thermostat or radiator. Go have it checked out. Thermostat is cheap to replace. Radiator is most costly. Hope for the thermostat.

Answer 6

From past experience, it sounds very like your thermostat,

don't bother getting it check out though, just get a new one they cost very little and very easy to replace, (the old one would get damaged taking it out)
if you don't believe me or the others check out any diy car repair web site to see how easy it is.

Answer 7

Could be the thermostat, but Vauxhalls /Opels are full of electronic sensors these days so it might be one playing up, best to get it to a garage before you get stuck

Answer 8

The temperature sensor in the radiator is faulty.This can be checked on a diagnostic machine the Vauxhall one is called Tech2.Scheduled time to check is .25hr.Rergards Mick.

Answer 9

Your thermostat may be stuck shut not allowing the water to run through your Rad.

Answer 10

beter becarfull .have the thermastat check but it might not be circulating in the radiator or eles it is to late and u took out the head gasket they are none for it i had 2 that both did the same thing