cromwell 0 Posted April 20, 2006 hi there some of you may have read my other posts about this problem, but ill explain it again quickly anyway. my car starts and runs perfectly until it heats up and i get steam erupting from the header tank and the car overheats. i know this sounds like the head gasket but whilst having a poke around today i found a couple of unconnected/dodgy wires that could possibly be causing the problem? the first is what looks to me like some sort of sensor that is completely unplugged and is on the drivers side of the car, by the induction. could this be unplugged from my water pump? http://i3.tinypic.com/vzypew.jpg The second is a wire in front of the head that seems to be warped/exposed: http://i3.tinypic.com/vzzati.jpg The third is right next to the warped wire and is again unplugged: http://i3.tinypic.com/vzzc4h.jpg any ideas guys? all help much appreciated, the car is sitting on the drive doing nothing :cry: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2006 The first plug looks like the ambient temp sender to me judging by it's position, does the MFA show outside temp OK? Third pic looks too short to reach anything major, could be something the previous owner did or something for diagnostic tools maybe? Second pic, not sure on that one! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 20, 2006 not sure about the MFA's outside temp, will have to check that later! wouldnt be causing the problem then you dont think? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted April 20, 2006 Nah it has nothing to do with the engine at all. I'm no G60 expert I'm afraid, so can't help with the overheating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bcstudent 0 Posted April 20, 2006 Is one of the wires for the optional oil pressure gauge sender? My 16v has a wire for that in the loom that's connected to nothing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Monkey 0 Posted April 20, 2006 Have you got both of the sensors plugged in on the water hose that leaves the head, the first looks VERY much like the blue one that should be connected there. (think it's water temp, so that should explain overheating) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2_Door_fun 0 Posted April 21, 2006 Have you got both of the sensors plugged in on the water hose that leaves the head, the first looks VERY much like the blue one that should be connected there. (think it's water temp, so that should explain overheating) I agree. That blue plug is the give away really. 2nd shot is your knock sensor cable. Mine was in a sim condition. Tape it up. Follow it back it will have a plug on 1 end. The other end is bolted in to your engine block or 'Should be' Mine was not. Again the cars wonderful previous owner who was an employed mechanic!!! Other shot. Well could be for attaching to an oil switch or it could be for the alternator. Does you Alt have a single wire coming of it? If so is it connected? Mine has a single wire that breaks at a join like that. For removal of the Alt I guess. Hope that helps Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trig 0 Posted April 21, 2006 Similarly i've got some random wires in my engine bay, even Vince couldn't work out what the hell they are for! I'll post up a picture of them tomorrow... :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted April 21, 2006 The second pic is the knock sensor cable, the third i'm fairly sure is unused on uk G60's... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2_Door_fun 0 Posted April 21, 2006 As an add on. See here. Informative site. Lots of tech info on Corrado's with the all imortant hotograh's.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 21, 2006 cheers for all the help! g60 dave yes i have both the plugs plugged in, ive even changed the plastic bit they sit in! But youre right, it does look exactly like that plug. is there anywhere i can download a haynes manual or something similar in PDF format or anything? cant find one in any of my local shops! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saysomestuff 0 Posted April 21, 2006 Are both top and bottom radiator hoses hot when it overheats? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 22, 2006 the top hoses get very hard and hot, and the bottom ones remain loose and cold :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyfication 0 Posted April 22, 2006 poss thermostat not opening, if it was opening both hoses would be hot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 22, 2006 where is the thermostat on the car? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyfication 0 Posted April 22, 2006 its mounted to the water pump under the alternator and above? the power steering pump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gradeAfailure 0 Posted April 22, 2006 In the most awkward place - right underneath the car, obstructed by the PAS pump bracket, and a pain to change. Follow the radiator bottom hose to the engine and you'll see a black plastic housing that it goes to - that's the thermostat housing. If the bottom hose isn't getting hot, then it's the thermostat at fault. Get a VAG one as they're better than the GSF ones, though you might want to get a Neuspeed 80deg one from AwesomeGTI if you're going to be modding the engine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saysomestuff 0 Posted April 22, 2006 Definite blockage - my money's on the 'stat Or posibly a small mammal has become trapped :silly: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 22, 2006 wooo finally i think i might be getting some answers! cheers guys! ill get on that tomorrow. ill look into that one from awesome GTI too, because i will be modding the engine up more eventually. :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 22, 2006 i cant seem to find that thermostat on awesome gti could anybody link me? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gradeAfailure 0 Posted April 22, 2006 http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/vw%20golfmk3/engine.html 'bout 3/4 of the way down - Neuspeed 4 Cyl 180 Degree Thermostat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 27, 2006 well i took the car to a garage and they changed the thermostat and it still boils up so the thing is now just pissing me off. anything else it could be? i may just have to scrap the thing and break it for parts if this carries on any longer :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2_Door_fun 0 Posted April 28, 2006 well i took the car to a garage and they changed the thermostat and it still boils up so the thing is now just pissing me off. anything else it could be? i may just have to scrap the thing and break it for parts if this carries on any longer :( Did the garage check the waterpump? Maybe its dead! Do you have the new water expansion cap? They are blue in colour. The old black ones are prone to pressure failure. Ask the garage to do a water test. This will show if you have headgasket trouble. Also flush the rad with a hose pipe. Maybe it has a blockage. My 60 had lots of probs. Was boiling over all the time. New stat still not fixed. In the end they tested the pump, it was fine bur my headgasket had gone. The water was flowing down my exhaust! This was why I could not work out where my water was going. Head was kinked had it skimmed and refitted no trouble since. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 28, 2006 ah thats good to hear, someone who had a very similar problem! how much did it end up costing you for the head gasket replacement etc? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cromwell 0 Posted April 28, 2006 p.s im hoping to check the water pump tonight, its the only thing i havnt done so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites