My car overheated the other day. The only other symptom was that the heater only blew cold air (No water leakage, draining of coolent, etc). The RAC man told me that it was probably the thermostat but the garage say it is the water pump and this costs four times as much!! Can you help? What might it be?
2007-03-22 22:55:18 · 13 answers · asked by splandastic 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It is a 2.0 petrol passat (2004). It only overheats when driving and not when just on idle.
2007-03-22 23:58:04 · update #1
The fact your heater ran cold meant no hot coolant was getting to it. That's either a lack of coolant, a lack of circulation or a blockage.
Could well be the pump; the garage will be able to eliminate the other causes, including the thermostat, which the RAC man couldn't do at the roadside. Do you happen to notice a trace of water underneath the pump, that's often a sign?
2007-03-22 23:03:54 · answer #1 · answered by champer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You were not getting any heat because the coolant was low and not getting to the heater core. When a water pump goes it usually releases coolant from the system. Ask the garage to show you why the pump is bad. They will probably show where the seal gave out. NOTE: when you get the waterpump replaced you want a new thermostat also, ALWAYS replace a thermostat when a car overheats, the overheating damages thermostats. Multiple overheating can cause engine damage.
2007-03-23 06:11:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The RAC man can only give a roadside diagnosis. The way a thermostat is checked is very simple. Remove it and put in a pan of boiling water to see if it opens. If it does then the cause is something else.
After that the list of possibilities is endless, water pump, core plug, head gasket etc.
2007-03-23 07:18:57 · answer #3 · answered by Mark B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most of the time when a vehicle blows cold air from the vents it's caused by a bad heater core which probably has a leak thus causing the overheating-get it fixed before it leads to major problems such as a cracked cylinder head-you did not state if you could smell antifreeze when the car is running?or if the windshield fogs up when you y=turn on the defroster-this is usually a dead give away of a clogged heater core
2007-03-23 06:17:38 · answer #4 · answered by browncityredneck 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well...any leaks? is the coolant full? it sounds like a head gasket. check the heater hoses and see if one is cool and the other is hot. lack of circulation....water pump?..maybe? but I would say it is an air pocket in the coolant. Head Gasket. Thermostats usually stick open and run the engine cool.
how old is the radiator? may have plugged or restricted tubes?
2007-03-23 06:13:09 · answer #5 · answered by Gimpy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the thermostat is stuck in the closed position, the engine will overheat & it would take hardly take no time to do so. Maybe within 3 or 4 miles. (4.827 to 6.436 km)
2007-03-23 06:27:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to your RAC man he will tell you the truth.
As for your garage....... their only interested in profit.
Go for the good advice from the RAC first.
Replace the thermostat.
Your car sounds like its an old one and probably needs a
good looking after.
2007-03-23 06:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by dtedad-50 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the rac guy is prob right ,try changing the thermostat 1st ....
wont cost much to do that ...
and should cure the problem ,most overheating is due to a faulty thermostat ...
the down side is if that does not stop the overheating ,then it will be the waterpump ....
2007-03-23 06:01:43 · answer #8 · answered by smudge2_k4 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Start with the thermostat, it's easiest and cheapest to replace.
It could be your lower radiator hose sucking shut, also cheap.
it could be waterpump-expensive.
I don't know what kind of car we are talking here.
2007-03-23 06:32:42 · answer #9 · answered by nbr660 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a cracked block/head also. either way its not good. I got a car that WILL NOT heat up in the winter but othewise drives fine.
2007-03-23 06:00:13 · answer #10 · answered by Willis C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋