Coolant Problem -Serious?

[belperandy]

Started the car up yesterday and after a few minutes got a warning on the dash that said "check Coolant temperature manual" or something similar. I stopped a few hundred yards later, the temperature gauge was still showing cold as it had not had time to warm up, so I checked the water/coolant level, This was half way between the min and max. So I switched it back on, this time no message so I thought it was OK.

Anyway came to it today and had major issues, set off and after a few minutes again it came up with the same message. I could not stop as I was on a dual carriageway so drove about 2 miles. Before I could park up and switch off I was sat at some lights, loads of smoke/steam started pouring from the bonnet and I could hardly see. Turned the Engine off and waiting for Green, then pulled up when possible. (The temperate gauge was showing normal as it always does, goes to the middle position)

I opened the bonnet to check coolant and it had completely gone, so it looks like it is boiling it and steaming it out of the bonnet.

Luckily I was within walking distance of shops so went and bought some coolant and filled it up.

Thought I best get back home so started off, I had to stop twice again to fill the coolant up. After about a mile it had boiled all the coolant and it was completely emtpy!

There is definintly not a leak when the car is sat still and switched off.

Has this happened to anyone before and does anyone know what it could be.

I am worried about the head gasket. Its going in the stealers tomorrow.

[dogbucket]

My old VR6 did similar when the thermostat jammed, but the temperature gauge would go off the scale. Strange that yours stays normal.

[R32Ash]

If there's definitely no leak, then it sounds ominously like a head gasket problem, or worse. The coolant's got to be going somewhere and if it's not leaking out, then it's going into the cylinders.

To be totally honest though, I'd just wait and see what the dealer has to say when they've pressure tested the system. There's no point in us trying to guess, although you'd obviously like an idea of what the problem might be.

Was the car still running ok, when you had to stop?

[Gti_Fly]

Maybe, your water pump has failed, and the coolant's not pumping around?

[belperandy]

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Was the car still running ok, when you had to stop?

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No car was worse when engine on but stationary. I had to swith the engine off completely.

While I was moving nothing noticably was coming from the engine but that may have just been the wind hiding the fact that it was steaming.

As soon as I came to a stand still, traffic lights etc. Steam was pouring out from under the bonnet.

Its in the stealers now so I'll post the result.

Luckily I have a bit of warranty left as its not quite 3 years old yet.

[Mattchaps]

Hope it ain't too serious mate. I got a similar, less serious problem! Coolant warning keeps coming on when the engine is cold, but once warmed up all is ok. Apparently the coolant sensors are prone to be faulty on the Mk4. Unfortunately mines out of warrenty so its an after xmas jobby!

Keep us posted

[R32Ash]

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Luckily I have a bit of warranty left as its not quite 3 years old yet.

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That's good news!

[belperandy]

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[ QUOTE ]

Luckily I have a bit of warranty left as its not quite 3 years old yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's good news!

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Not So. I just got a call from the dealer saying it is not Warranty, I am fuming. A few days to go to Christmas. Not a lot of spare cash and they are wanting nearly £400 for a new Radiator.

I think they are trying to pull a fast one to bump up there years takings or something. They say it is not warranty work because it has had a crash at the front and bent the radiator. Now I have had the car for nearly a year and have never had a bump at all, not even a shopping trolley has nudged the car. So I find it very far fetched that the previous owner had a bump then there was no affect for nearly a year, then all of a sudden its loosing water at an alarming rate.

What do people think? are they trying to make me pay cause I only have 1 month of warranty left or something.

The actuall price comes out at about £350 for a new radiator (which includes 10% so they reckon)

Really don't want to pay this on the main principal of I feel they are conning me, oh and I just bought 4 new Tyres the day before!

[rs32]

that sounds daft - how sure are you that there has been no previous problem ?

if you're certain, beat them repeatedly or find another dealer that will sort things out.

[belperandy]

I am 100% the car has never had a knock whilst I have had it, and I am only one driving it.

I have also just contacted the previous owner (another TSNer) who had the car for about a year and he has kindly replied to say it was never bumped while he had it.

So If the dealer tries to stick to their story of it being banged and this caused the radiator to break it means it was done over 2 years ago, and had since then done 15,000 miles with no problem and it has only just caused it a problem now. Some how I don't think so.

Going down to inspect the car tomorrow.

2 questions

(1) Has anyone claiming warranty very near the end of 3 years had problems claiming. Somehow if this was a 6 month old car with first owwner I just couldn't see them saying the same thing.

(2) Has anyone had a new radiator fitted at a VW garage and if so how much. My other post was meant to say "£350 for a new radiator (which includes 10% DISCOUNT so they reckon)"

Cheers

[rs32]

give 'em a kicking mate - sounds like you should be covered given what you have posted

and whatever the eventual outcome, contact VW technical now via VW UK - they can have a sway in things providing you can prove proper servicing etc Of course they are also useless sometimes as well, but still worth registering the issue with them.

good luck

[R32Ash]

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(1) Has anyone claiming warranty very near the end of 3 years had problems claiming. Somehow if this was a 6 month old car with first owwner I just couldn't see them saying the same thing.

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Only problem I had with a warranty claim was with the retarded cock-monkeys not understanding what the fault was.

It shouldn't matter about how far into the 3 years you are; the dealer just does the job and claims from VW for it. So long as they belive they'll get their money, it's in their interest to find as much wrong as they can - that's how they make their money.

[RossG]

[ QUOTE ]

Has anyone claiming warranty very near the end of 3 years had problems claiming. Somehow if this was a 6 month old car with first owwner I just couldn't see them saying the same thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

I left my car with the dealer the week my warranty expired.

I had a new engine under warranty 2 weeks later.

It really shouldn't make a difference to the dealer as they will be claiming it from VW just the same as they would a newer car.

Kick their arses - make them prove it was in a bump

[belperandy]

Thanks for the info guys. I see what you mean about them claiming it back from VW for the cost of them carrying out the work. The chap did actually say to me VW might turn it down if they put it through as warranty.

I feel so aggrieved cause I know it hasn't been bumped and should be warranty. Maybe because I am the 3rd owner they think I can't prove the previous owner didn't do it, which I can't.

Going back tomorrow to check the car and if there is no damage on the bumper to show signs of an impact then I can't see how they can argue it has had one.

I'll report back later tomorrow. I just hope it doesn't become a shouting match.

[MajorH]

I work for an automotive Tier 1 supplier, and the way warranty usually works is the dealer claims labour from the OEM, then the OEM claims all costs including transportation plus a FOC replacement from the supplier. VW will claim that the part does not meet its 'Lastenheft' (specification) which will cover a lifetime climatic test usually cycled from -30 to +85 degrees which is done at an accelerated rate to simulate usually 10 years. Only if the returned component exhibits signs of damage would the supplier have comeback on VW (inspections of warranty returns are only usually on a selective basis unless theres a a high incidence of failure on a certain part)and that would be months down the line. Every year suppliers and the OEM negotiate rebates and back payments on warranty(which in itself is a game of cat and mouse, usually envolving big kick backs). The dealer imho is being a grade 1 dick.