Katy_m28 10 Posted November 6, 2014 Hi guys. Ok, so I'm not a mechanic.I just bought a '91 16v. I know what I'm getting into buying old cars like this, but as I work away a lot I don't have much time to do much on the cars and usually for anything major it goes to my uncles garage, but normally I don't buy anything with anything major wrong with it for those reasons. I have been away on holiday and just put the car in to get some things done. When I came back today I was told there is a major problem with the engine. Firstly the coolant was leaking, that was fixed but after running, the whole system was pressurising. They don't reckon it's a head gasket as none of the telltale signs are there. The engine has been over heating and the fan is actually on a manual switch on the dash. I've been told they might not be able to fix this problem at all and was just wondering if anyone has any advice or experienced this before? Thanks. *Depressed new Corrado Owner* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easypops 8 Posted November 6, 2014 Not very mechanically minded myself, but if it's not the head gasket, what else can it be? Water pump, blocked hoses/radiatior, broken thermostat, rad fan switch, coolant temp sensor?.....can't think of much else. My old 2.0 16v had a water pump issue, all the blades had broken off the impeller and it constantly overheated, plus someone had removed the thermostat, couple of fairly cheap parts and it was well again. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable people will be Alain soon :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katy_m28 10 Posted November 6, 2014 well the gasket was replace around three years ago and they just said the telltale signs aren't there for it to be the gasket. They said they could replace it but honestly don't think it's going to solve the problem :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted November 6, 2014 take it somewhere else if they can't diagnose that, if the water is over-pressurizing then either the head gasket is leaking from a combustion chamber into a water gallery or the expansion bottle seal/valve is failing, does it have a black expansion bottle cap?, these are 'old ones' and should be replaced with blue, sometimes leaking from this is confused with a head-gasket problem. They should be able to check pump and water flow by starting from cold and tracing the heat from the engine around the hoses and to a through the radiator, a cheap IR thermometer is good for this and most garages have one these days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted November 6, 2014 Pressurising and overheating are signs of headgasket failure, it needs testing to confirm this though. It could also be a stuck closed thermostat (cheap to replace with a quality part or remove it altogether temporarily while you continue to test for the issue). Radiator blocked (flush out with a hose pipe), faulty coolant pump, coolant passageways in the engine blocked with non compatible anti freeze (drain and flush out with a hose pipe before refilling with the correct mix), too much anti freeze can also cause overheating (max is 50% anti freeze / water mix). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katy_m28 10 Posted November 6, 2014 its got a blue one, it just got replaced not too long ago. Ok, thanks for the info and I'll let them know what you think. Really appreciate it :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted November 6, 2014 All the above is pretty basic stuff, they've had the car whilst you were on holiday and they couldn't pinpoint the issue, I'd take it elsewhere. AA and RAC will test for HGF at the roadside........ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davidwort 0 Posted November 6, 2014 I have seen old radiators almost totally blocked, they can be a problem as the 16v has very narrow cross tubes, it's not that hard to drain the coolant and check water flow with a garden hose as Dox says and easypops listed, it's just a process of elimination. You wouldn't expect the 'normal' diagnosis of a headgasket failure from water jacket to oil gallery if it had gone from combustion chamber to water gallery though as with no water meeting the oil you get no mayonnaise (emulsified oil) in the sump. I had an 8v that simply corroded the gasket from water jacket into the no. 1 cylinder, top left of the head, same block basically. have they done a compression test on all cylinders as Dox says above too? - another thing to check off and simple to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katy_m28 10 Posted November 6, 2014 Thanks so much for the information everyone. Sounds like the car is definitely saveable and I think I'll take it to a vw specialist! Don't think they've done a compression test on the cylinders. I'll tell them what checks I want them to do also. Really appreciate the responses everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
science 0 Posted November 6, 2014 If the above fails, as a last resort chuck some k-seal in. It fixed a weepy head gasket and radiator leak in the misuses Skoda for a couple of years until the rust sent it to the big racetrack in the sky. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mk3highline 10 Posted November 7, 2014 You could sniff the coolant and see if you can smell the exhaust fumes in them? If it's pressurised the coolant Obviously from cold or look to see if there are excessive air bubbles rising In The expansion tank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katy_m28 10 Posted November 9, 2014 Science, done that and the temp on the engine seems to be holding so far! So keeping my fingers crossed for that. Going to run some other checks that people have mentioned just to see if I can find out more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katy_m28 10 Posted November 29, 2014 Hey Everyone! So an update on the problem. Put some K-seal in and seemed ok for a few days but then it all went to **** again! I took it to a recommended VW garage JR Volkswagen in Paisley. The guy was totally awesome and I told him the problem and all the thoughts and opinions you guys shared and my suspicion of a head gasket. Turns out that was the problem so its been skimmed and fitted and everything seems ok. I haven't got the Corrado back yet as I'm getting the manual fan with on the dash changed back to automatic but hopefully she will be home safe and sound next week! Can't thank you all enough for the thoughts and opinions and I'm so glad she is still running. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted November 29, 2014 Good news glad to see you stuck with it and didnt throw in the towel Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goldie 2 Posted November 29, 2014 Hey Everyone! So an update on the problem. Put some K-seal in and seemed ok for a few days but then it all went to **** again! I took it to a recommended VW garage JR Volkswagen in Paisley. The guy was totally awesome and I told him the problem and all the thoughts and opinions you guys shared and my suspicion of a head gasket. Turns out that was the problem so its been skimmed and fitted and everything seems ok. I haven't got the Corrado back yet as I'm getting the manual fan with on the dash changed back to automatic but hopefully she will be home safe and sound next week! Can't thank you all enough for the thoughts and opinions and I'm so glad she is still running. Is this the garage in the industrial estate near the Arnold Clark repair centre? I took mine there for an MOT and he was good.. Good news on the fault being found… Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
