HELP!!!! HONDA CIVIC 09 in BOURNEMOUTH Overheating Issue that Never goes away

PrinceRaygun

I took my car to Halfords on 19th November for an overheating issue, I was told an electrician needed to diagnose the fault that was occurring as they Halfords had previously put in a replacement coolant sensor and it wasn't changing anything. The car was returned and they told me they had to order a Honda sensor and it would be delivered soon. I called back a few days later and was dismayed to find I was reminded them to order the part so had to wait a few more days for this part to arrive. By this time we are into december. I explained to them a few times that the overheating issue doesn't occur until the car has been driven for about half hour and every time they have it in the shop he tells me they leave it running to see if it'll do it then. I use the car for work and have said tell me when you want to see the fault and I will take it and drive it and bring it back when its happening but they haven't taken me up on the offer and just aren't doing the drive necessary to see what is actually wrong. So last week they get round to doing the sensor and I ask them to fix the heating so they tell me thats related and we agreed to install a radiator. The car comes back this Saturday and I am on the motorway when exactly the same fault happens again. I immediately call him and he says bring it back Monday so they can check the water circulation. On Monday I took the car back and heard nothing until today when he tells me they had the car running for three hours yesterday and "it all seems fine" and that he's "baffled" instructing me to go and get the car again and "see if its ok now" as if this issue is now going to have magically fixed itself because it has been ignored by the people charged to fix it. 

I don't know my rights here and what I can demand or how to deal with a complaint. I cannot earn money without it and this has ruining most of November and is quickly ruining December too. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Grey_Critic

Have you checked that it is not a known fault on the make/model? You don't say the model/engine but an internet search might turn something up.

Don't expect Halfords to know such things.

facade

Most likely the overheating is only when it is driven hard, and Halfords are just leaving it ticking over, and the cooling system can cope.

Get them to change the water pump now it has a new radiator, it is about the only thing left, and reduced flow at high speed would cause the fault.

No idea where you stand, except Halfords are just for servicing and simple jobs, you should have taken it to a proper garage in the first place, and if you explained in the beginning that it only happens after half an hour at motorway speeds they ought to have told you that they won't do that sort of test drive if they can't.

If it is costing you money and they can't sort it take it elsewhere.

Bigwheels1111

First mistake is going to Halfords.
State what make model and year of car you have. That would help.
I scanned my mates Prius with a basic obd2 reader, as was having issues with the heater not working. ie not getting hot.
Gave a fault code for water pump.
Put the code in Google and all the answers said water pump. They are electric and fail at 100k, he was lucky got to 156,000.
£230 and 1 hour of my time, I had the pump and antifreeze changed.
5 bolts and a hose clip. Good old YouTube for instructions.

I would find a proper mechanic to diagnose the issue.
Also give a rough location ie Lincoln and you might get a recommendation for a good garage.

Bigwheels1111

Not losing water, could be thermostat.
Losing water, water pump
Heaters not getting hot, blocked heater matrix, blocked rad or water pump.

driven hard and overheating, I would look at water pump.
Have you checked the oil, make sure it’s black and not a creamy Guinness looking.
Check the oil filler cap as well, if it white and frothy.
That would be head gasket, or damaged oil cooler if have a turbo. 

PrinceRaygun

Cheers guys! All very helpful comments. I have put the make model in the title. I wasn’t aware that they had limited to no expertise. 

facade

Now you've said it's a Civic, seems head gasket failure is a likely cause. Does it use any water?

There should be a radiator cap and a translucent expansion tank/reservoir that is kept half full.

If you undo the radiator cap after it has been standing overnight, it should be full to the tippy-top.  The reservoir is then half full.

When you drive it fast for a long time enough gas leaks from the head gasket to push water out of the radiator and reduce the amount of cooling. At tick over, the slight leakage escapes into the reservoir.  There will be residual gas in the top of the radiator when it is cold if this is the case.

A decent garage will test it properly.  Don't go to the fast fitting chains.

Norman_Castle

PrinceRaygun said:

 So last week they get round to doing the sensor and I ask them to fix the heating so they tell me thats related and we agreed to install a radiator.

Whats wrong with the heating, no heat when travelling at speed? Overheating and over cooling suggests a sticking thermostat. Depending on the car these can be very cheap and easy to replace.

Mutton_Geoff

I'd actually take it to Honda. I used to have a CRV and had all my servicing done at a local main agent as their prices were so low they compared well to the back street places I'd used in the past.

Grey_Critic

Back in the 1980s I worked for a Ford Truck Dealer. Work done was charged as per book times. One day someone brought a *D*series in with an engine fault. A new engine had been fitted a few months before by a back street garage. For the warranty claim to repair under warranty Ford required proof in the form of an invoice from the garage to show they had fitted it. Now I cannot recall the prcise times but the Ford book time for the job was say 10 hours - Labour rate back then was I think £10 per hour - the non ford garage charged 15 hours at £8.00 - the customer had fallen for the old tale *we are cheaper than the main dealer* Yes they were but they also charged more hours - did us a favour really as he moved his work to us and told his mates.