2.3 Overheating On Idle

[jimjamjo]

Hi

 

I recently bought a 2.3 Mk1 Galaxy. The temperature is fine (middle of NORM) except when idling. It starts creeping up on idle - up to the M mark on the gauge - but goes back to normal as soon as you rev it up.

 

Please note my signature still shows the 1.9TDi which is up for sale.

[Stevoo]

Sounds like water pump to me.

Does your fan cut in at all?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Check that the cooling fans are working; could be the voltage stabiliser is faulty so that the gauge moves but the actual water temperature is not increasing. You will need a thermometer on the rad/top hose to confirm this though

[Steve P]

What sort of temperature should be seen on the top hose and how does this relate to what the gauge reads? For example if the top hose is at 80 deg should the gauge be on normal? Reason for asking is that our 2.3 has always run cold - and we've owned it for 7 years. It might just be the gauge?

 

However I have a digital thermometer with a remote probe that I can easily install at the top hose - so I could actually find out if it's the gauge or thermostat. Not bad eh - only 7 years before i get round to thinking about it :rolleyes: .

 

Anyway - jimjamjo - what happens if you turn the air con on? That switches the fans on as well. It will atleast tell you if the fans work.

 

Cheers

[jimjamjo]

The fan is working fine.

 

I saw a post by mm or SeatKid about turning the heating on and if the temperature gauge goes down then its the water pump. I tried it and the temperature did go down so I'll probably fit a new pump.

 

Any posts or links about fitting a water pump to a 2.3?

[jimjamjo]

Wow

[jimjamjo]

Just fitted the water pump and it seems to be working but....

 

Running rough as f*ck and brakes barely work

[jimjamjo]

ok so I over-reacted :blink:

 

Checked a couple of previous posts and found that the manifold to servo pipe had popped out when engine was jacked up.

 

Thanks be to UK Autos Galaxy Forum yet again.

[jimjamjo]

The new waterpump hasn't fixed the problem!

 

To be honest, the old one looked pretty indestructible, turned smoothly and the car has only covered 60K

[seatkid]

oops! :blink:

 

Isn't it normal for petrol engines to creep up in temperature when idling? (esp in summer) So long as it comes down when the fan cuts in thats OK. Don't know how big the NORM on the gauge is but I guess that N to M only is about 10 deg at most.

 

If you are convinced there is a problem, then it could be your radiator is a little clogged up or it could be the thermostat isnt fully opening. (Did you change the thermostat with the pump?)

 

BTW if you did a little bit more searching you will find the "failing water pump problem" is restricted to VW engines - they are the ones with a plastic impeller. The Ford engines (2.0/2.3 litres) don't have the problem.

Edited July 7, 2007 by seatkid