Golf overheating issue, coolant & smoke

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catoutthebag
catoutthebag Posts: 2,216 Forumite
in Motoring
Ok long story short

Earlier this year ecu light come. Couple things appear to relate to coolant, one being temperature sensor, which got sorted. Car blows cold air, temperature gauge in middle.

Yesterday on a long journey, coolant light comes on. Check coolant and it was at minimum line so assumed sensitive sensor.

I topped up with a bit of water, coolant light switched off.

Drive a further 20 minutes, temperature gauge goes off the scale, coolant light on, smoke out the Bonnet.

Advised not to open bonnet, car got towed to garage home 100 miles away.

They said they had it running, can't find any leaks or issues.

Any idea what it could be?

The second time the car stalled, so lucky I wasn't on motorway etc! I travel all over an hour each way, so back on the road tomorrow.
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Comments

  • mrmot
    mrmot Posts: 192 Forumite
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    Sounds like the water pump to me - no circulation, hence the cold air from the heater, getting hot at higher speeds, I should think that the plastic impeller is cracked/breaking up and is not getting driven properly by the pump shaft.

    Maybe time for a new pump and it would make sense to do the timing belt/pulleys and tensioner at the same time.
  • catoutthebag
    catoutthebag Posts: 2,216 Forumite
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    Would the garage have spotted it? And I did notice coolant drop second time..but no leak...unless it escaped when I opened it still hot
  • Muscle750
    Muscle750 Posts: 1,075 Forumite
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    Take oil filler cap off and check you aint got mayonaise looking stuff inside and on the oil filler cap. Could be a stuck thermostat as well.
  • Geoff1963
    Geoff1963 Posts: 1,088 Forumite
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    Could be a head gasket, so the exhaust pressurises the coolant and blows it out. After a run and left to cool, are the hoses hard, with a hiss when you remove the filler cap ?
  • catoutthebag
    catoutthebag Posts: 2,216 Forumite
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    Oil filler cap?

    Didn't notice cream when I took off oil cap or hissing?

    And I know because the oil light came on an hour before this happened and I topped it up.
  • z1a
    z1a Posts: 2,522 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
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    catoutthebag wrote: »
    Oil filler cap?

    Didn't notice cream when I took off oil cap or hissing?

    And I know because the oil light came on an hour before this happened and I topped it up.

    Do you only top oil up when light comes on?
  • catoutthebag
    catoutthebag Posts: 2,216 Forumite
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    z1a wrote: »
    Do you only top oil up when light comes on?

    No, it was the first time it happened
  • catoutthebag
    catoutthebag Posts: 2,216 Forumite
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    Geoff1963 wrote: »
    Could be a head gasket, so the exhaust pressurises the coolant and blows it out. After a run and left to cool, are the hoses hard, with a hiss when you remove the filler cap ?

    Head gasket blown would only happen if I continued to drive with the the temperature gauge to max, whereas I stopped?

    Car runs fine at the moment
  • Geoff1963
    Geoff1963 Posts: 1,088 Forumite
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    Head gasket blown
    Not blown, just leaking slowly.
  • GothicStirling
    GothicStirling Posts: 1,157 Forumite
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    Geoff1963 wrote: »
    Not blown, just leaking slowly.

    Do NOT drive it, your engine will seize up. Get to a garage ASAP.
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