Car Overheating Issue

snnl

Just watched the wife drive it away (quick trip to shops) and noticed a fair bit of white smoke from the exhaust...

Now that does shout potential HG failure, but there’s few other signs for it.

Now my minds think if this is worst case, how much are we looking for a HG failure repair??

crispy_chris

My Vauxhall Insignia did this, the radiator hose had become detached from the engine itself, so the car was genuinely overheating - however there was no obvious performance loss, only a series of warning lights and sounds from within the car. I'd probably stop driving it until you're sure it's just a sensor issue.

arcon5

Could also just be normal smoke.

Sounds like thermostat starting sticking but your now running it in to the ground. Potentially just turned a 70 quid repair in to an 800 quid repair.

transcriber

did you bleed the coolamt after you topped up?

snnl

Thanks for all the replies guys, it does help! As much as we would love to stop driving the car completely we have a 6 month old and a nearly 3 year old and we need the use of the car. We have limited it to short trips to the shops for things we desperately need. Everything else has been stopped. And i'm checking over the car before and after the trips!

Arcon5, it could just be normal smoke, when she returned it wasn't pushing out any white smoke, i checked. Revved the engine and it was happily sitting on 90C like a normal day. Fan was blasting out though still. trying my best not to turn it in to an £800 repair

I hope it something is as simple as as dodgy thermostat or a loose hose! like you said crispy_chris!

Also transcriber no, I didn't bleed the coolant after I topped it up... should I have done that? if so how, never thought of that. It wasn't empty btw, it was literally on the min line and i topped it up to the max line.

Norman_Castle

No need to bleed after a small top up.

snnl

A little update, just incase this happens to anyone else.

Took the car to the garage today, they checked it out and diagnosed a faulty electronic thermostat. He suggested it be replaced as well as replaceing the water pump at the same time.

Parts and labour came to £432.00 - I think thats a fairly accurate cost for the above, its a trusted garage our family have used for many years so I have no reason not to trust them!.

I'm not sure if the pump was needed but I've read its one of them jobs that if you're doing a labour intensive job and around the area then its sensible to replace it if its been a while. Theres no record of it being done on any paperwork I have and its on 85k miles.

So there we go!

markudman

Hi I think its expensive, the electronic thermostat is only 3 bolts and right at the front of the engine, the water pump is only run by Aux belt,so no timing belt, in fact the electronic thermostat is bolted to the water pump, so I would say, one and a half hours labour MAX, £100 for parts MAX, a little anti freeze, I would find it hard to Justify £250.00 Unless there labour rate is £125 am hour.

arcon5

Don't think the thermostat is on the pump. That would be highly unusual. On fact I've never seen it. The temp sensor is though I believe. Don't know why they replaced the pump though. But it's done now so at least everything's sorted

markudman

Yes the stat is on the end of the pump housing