Steam rising in traffic.. I suspect something's wrong....

[CharlieC 0]

Hi,

 

I recently started seeing pretty little puffs of steam coming from the bonnet of my VR6. Now, I know less than most high school girls about cars, but reckon this is not a good sign.

 

The steam has got worse, especially in traffic, and my coolant light recently started flashing - I've not driven the C since this happened yesterday. I've looked and the coolant level is low. I can't remember the last time I heard the fan running, which makes me think it's broke. 15 mins after I've parked up, the fan's not been on, but I can hear a squishing noise, which I'm guessing could be the coolant pump.

 

Now, before I head to the Stealers to hand over my life savings, is there anything I can do to check out he problem? I've pulled the fuses out and checked 13 and 19, which are fine. Given my total lack of mecahnic skills, I can't think of anything else to check? Can anyone tell me what I can do?

 

Cheers,

 

Nik

[Supercharged 2]

Start the car from cold and let it warm up, check the stat opens by checking the bottom rad hose and the rad gets hot, this should happen before the fan comes on...

[andy 0]

Agreed, top her up with water first though mate. You may well find you can see where the steam is coming from, I recently had similar experiences and found when I lifted the bonnet there was steam escaping from a pin hole in a hose. £35 later, easy fix. Try a VW specialist if you have no joy and aren't keen on VW stealers prices.

[dub envy 0]

I had this problem too... mine turned out to be a split rad where the rear engine mount had snapped and the engine had rocked forward and punctured the rad.

 

Hopefully yours wont be as expensive as that to fix though...

[Storm77 0]

I had that too the other day....

 

Here's the thread for it.

 

http://www.the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/viewto ... highlight=

[CharlieC 0]

Ok, so here's the update.

 

Took it to the stealers on Tuesday am. By end of day they're on the phone telling me they can't recreate the problem. "Just sit in it with the engine running" I tell them. By Wednesday they've managed to do this, steam pouring out of the front. I get call, this time "There's no leak. It's overheating. We don't what's wrong. The MASTER TECHNICIAN will be looking at it tomorrow." Wow, sounds like something out of Star Wars.

 

So, they then decide there is a leak - no shit Sherlock. It's the flange on the radiator. They replace it. They call me back "It's still overheating, there's a hole in the radiator". By now I'm believing nothing they say. Oh, and they can't provide a rad until end of Feb 2006. These muppets really take the piss.

 

Soooooo, now I've got to go pick up a crook car and have bugger all idea about what to do. I can't even get it to Stealth as I'm scared to death of doing her an injury.

 

I will fill the rad, and try and see where the steam's coming from.... In the event that it is the rad, what's the deal with this sealant stuff you can pour in top fill small holes?

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Rad weld kind of works, might buy you a bit of time.

 

Avoid GSF VR rads, they're not much cop at all. Try and get an original Denso Marsten (Sp?) one from the dealer, which is only a few quid more than the GSF one.

 

I'm sure they can get one before Feb, that's ridiculous.... they talking horsesh1t. They don't know when exactly a back ordered item will arrive, the system just says "back order", they're just stringing you along....try a different stealer.