URGENT HELP PLEASE......ITS HAPPENED!!

[dobby]

So, do you guys/girls reckon it'll be ok to fill up with water and drive slowly to a garage for a check up? I'd have a go myself as I know my way around an engine but we need it back asap.

As per Franco, get it recovered to a bongo specialist garage for bleeding. Most recovery firms will take it to a specialist from your home but you normally have to have the relay plus - maybe an upgrade on cover first might be needed

[Glenda]

Does Brighton have a football club

We are just having a few years off Should beat Hampshire at Lords on Sunday though.

Lets get back on topic of overheating. If Eat Aunt was to overeat give us a shout and I may be able to help you out.

Cheers Stuart

[Eat Aunt]

Cheers Dude

[bongomaan]

make sure your recovery people do a complete lift as towing will damage your auto box as it needs to be pumping oil around,i hope its only your water pump mine went and i was alright but honestly its not an advertising blag but i survived becase of a temp alarm and coolant alarm,keep me fingers crossed for you.......ps...i think these engines are tougher than sometimes they are given credit for,i have had several "brown trousers incidents " cheers.....

[Aunt Trumpet]

make sure your recovery people do a complete lift as towing will damage your auto box as it needs to be pumping oil around,i hope its only your water pump mine went and i was alright but honestly its not an advertising blag but i survived becase of a temp alarm and coolant alarm,keep me fingers crossed for you.......ps...i think these engines are tougher than sometimes they are given credit for,i have had several "brown trousers incidents " cheers.....

Unfortunately I dont have recovery..

I'm goint meet up with the Eat Aunt tomorrow and maybe see his guy in Gosport. I've been reading up on the members section about overheating and I'd have a go at bleeding and flushing myself but rather a mechanic has a go first.

Hopefully it's a just a brown trouser moment!...

[lizard]

On a more serious note.

Have you considered writing to The Sun & asking Diedre?

Or ask Elvis

[Eat Aunt]

..

I'm going to meet up with the Eat Aunt tomorrow

Thanks for the warning

[Marcus Beechcroft]

Recent overheating problem was found to be the water pump on my 1996 diesel. Alan's Motors of Plymstock was really helpful and found the blades of the pump had completely disintegrated like another one he had had in transported back from France. It looks like the blades gradually corrode away over the years, so any pumps over say 12 years have a big question mark hanging ovrer them!

[bongomaan]

not the worst job in the world the water pump....but when mine went i had to wait for the snow to melt to get underneath.....and bleedings not that hard and plenty of help here if you need it,the first time i did it two un-named hero"s "pm"ed me their mobile numbers in case things got shady...you cant beat backup like that....cheers gents...n..

[scanner]

It looks like the blades gradually corrode away over the years, so any pumps over say 12 years have a big question mark hanging ovrer them!

One of the reasons you must make sure the Antifreeze and CORROSION INHIBITOR (it performs both functions) in the coolant is kept up to strength and changed regularly.

[Aunt Trumpet]

ok....update.

Went to meet up with the Eat Aunt but didnt get much more than 1/2 mile before it started to heat up again...gauge got to about 1'oclock. Pulled over and switched off, top radiator hose was cold and so was expansion tank and front of the system so I'm now thinking the thermostat might be stuck. The scavenger fan was not going and even though they were turned to hot and blowers on full, i wasn't getting any heat from the vents. I let it cool down and carried on another 1/2 mile but it started to rise again so stopped, switched off and checked again, this time the top hose was hot and so was front of the system, so now I'm assuming the thermo works?..scavenger fan still not on.

After a cool down I decided to abandon the trip and head back but only got half way when it went again and this time i could hear the expansion tank bubbling!!! ....pulled in to a pub car park straight away and everything off. And thats where it is now...I walked back..just waiting for it to get cool enough so I can fetch back home.....cheesed off doesn't describe it!

[BongoMTBer]

Sounds like it needs a proper bleed to me.

[Aunt Trumpet]

Sounds like it needs a proper bleed to me.

I hope so, but to be honest, if I've got no noticeable leak that i can see in the system ( no puddles underneath ) and a bubbling header tank it points to head gasket in my book.... although there is no white smoke or steam from the rear and there is no smeg inside the oil filler cap...have to admit I'm not hopeful...

[francophile1947]

The reason the header tank is cold is an airlock stopping the water circulating - you really mustn't drive it until the system has been bled.

[Aunt Trumpet]

The reason the header tank is cold is an airlock stopping the water circulating - you really mustn't drive it until the system has been bled.

The header tank is bubbling hot when it overheats...however,

I've just brought it back from where I left it, 1/2 a mile away. Put about a litre of water in the in the header tank, started fine. Wifey follows me back under scrict instructions to watch the exhaust for steam or white smoke.

Got back ok, NO smoke or steam from the rear, didn't really overheat, didn't really move from the 11 o'clock position so I thought I'd leave it idling on the drive while watching it like a hawk. 10 mins later...nothing. Gauge still at 11 and no sign of moving, header tank and radiator top hose are warmish but not hot. Hoses underneath the seats are pretty hot but not unusually so I think. The cooling fans were going but not the scavenger. I turned it all off after 15 mins as I think it would've stayed like that all day.
Why would it overheat going along but not idling when there is no air rushing through the radiator?

So, any further thoughts anyone? ( trying to give as much info as possible)....

Thanks everyone for your input so far...much appreciated....
...and to the Eat Aunt..STFU says your marmalade is in your cupboard!!.....