High Temp Guage and heater blowing hot and cold/.

18/11/08

Hi all.

I hope i am on the right page to post a question as am baffled. I own a 2000 V reg Frontera 2.2i limited. Its done 65K and has all the history. I recently got the cam shaft sensor replaced from a back stret garage which cost me £250.00 is this right or was i ripped off ????

Secondly i have encountered another problem. THe temp guage will run high once in heavy traffic or idling, it will hit the red and the fan kicks in. I had the coolant and radiator flushed but it still does the same thing but will take a bit longer to hit the red now, i called the garage to get some advice and he reckon it could be the head gasket?? Has anyone had this problem if so i would appreciate all the help. I have checked all the pipes in the engine and they all seem fine. I thought it might be the Thermostat ???

I just have this feeling that the garage might be trying to rip me off and have come to you's for some expert advice,

Secondly the heater iin the car will run hot and cold, occasionaly it will take a while for the heater to blow hot and when it does it's fine, then i noticed it will blow from hot to cold over a period then back to hot once the car is switched off then back on again.

I am really confused and would appreciate al the help as i seem to be throwing money away to these garages.

Could you also tell me if it is the head gasket what does that mean and is that expensive ??

I have left my mobile number below and dont mind if you contact me by phone and i dont mind calling if you send me a number to contact you on if it will be easier to explain to me. I will appreciate all the help possible.

Hope to hear back soon

Riz

"Aberdeen Scotland "

RIZ i have removed phone number as its against forum rules

please use e-mail or PM to make contact
cheers smiffy

sounds like it could be the thermostat

its a cheaper option than letting a garage charge for a headgasket that you might not need

Firstly check your coolant level, if it doesn't change over a few days then it's less likely to be head gasket especially if engine runs fine otherwise. (and there are no other leaks)
Doesn't sound like a head gasket anyway, it does sound like the thermostat. Put simply, your engine, and gauge are one side of the thermostat which acts like a valve, and your heater is the other. If the engine side is hot enough for the fan to cut in then the thermostat should act like an open valve to allow hot water to the heater. As you say it blows hot then cold then hot again, that again sounds like a sticking thermostat to me.

Only other suggestion may be an airlock somewhere in the system.

Thermostat is cheap enough and relatively easy to do.

£250 does sound a bit much, by quite a bit in my humble tightfisted opinion :lol:

You need a thermostat, not a housing as that's the part bolted to the side of the engine, and the thermostat lives inside.
Usually held on with 3 bolts.... *thinks*.... might be 4.
Any motor factors like partco or similar, or even halfrauds if you must. Probably less than a tenner if memory works, don't forget the gasket.

This hot and cold thing has come up quite a lot lately and a few times it has been a blockage in the heater matrix.
Sometimes it will not clear by simple back flushing the system, and needs to be removed to clean it out properly.
I don't think its your thermostat, but it is the cheapest part to try first.

Hi Riz

Reading your post is uncanny as I went through the same issue with my 2.2 recently.

Originally running hot, a faulty thermostat was diagnosed and was subsequently replaced circa £200 iirc.

Then, its started loosing water again. I dont think its the head gasket as there is no mayonnaise, and I do get the very odd noise of gushing or flowing water coming from the passenger footwell when im driving along.

I took it out a week or so ago and overheated within 8 miles, when I removed the radiator cap (silly, I know but I did take care) the water gushed like a geyser, it was not hot, it was lukewarm and I was surprised at the pressure that built up.

Anyhow its going in Thursday of this week, so I will let you know what it was so that you can check the same.

firestar88, sounds like head gasket. The pressure in the coolant is a good sign. Check oil filler cap for signs of white gunge aswell.

Best advice is not to drive until fixed, made that mistake with a rover, which ended up being a new engine!

Apparantly common on the 2.2 at about 80,000 miles. (mine went at 88,000).
Get a few prices first though. Going to be a few hundred at a garage. Or have a go yourself if you don't mind wielding a spanner around. It's not that difficult, just time consuming, but it will save you a bit of cash.

James

Bugger.

I did wonder what the hell was going on it came out like champagne, will no doubt cost me the same as well

Cheers James

New thermostat approx £25.

Headgasket set £100 to £150. Most garages will charge around £300 to £500 to change a headgasket. Vauxhall will charge considerably more. If it is the head gasket then a reputable garage will certainly be cheaper then a main dealer by a fairly large amount of moneys.

As mentioned before I would be inclined to go with thermostat before headgasket. If you are not losing coolant or oil then headgasket is probably fine. The temp gauge will go to just before the red line when sitting in traffic then the electric fan should cut in bringing the temp back to about halfway.

Where you say "the gauge goes to just before the red line" is that normal, as mine has always done that in traffic. Or is it a sign the thermostat is stuck? When the fan kicks in it goes straight down to half way again.
This year I towed a caravan and the gauge never moved whilst going up hills. Is it worth removing the thermostat or shall I replace it and know it is correct?

It is normal for the temperature to rise in traffic as there is no airflow through the radiator to cool the coolant, so the fan cuts in (92 degrees C as standard) to draw air through the radiator and over the engine to cool it. On the 2.2 the fan stops again when it reaches the halfway point (approximately).

The thermostat can be checked very easily by removing it and placing it in a pan of hot water, bring it to the boil and if its working correctly it should open at 92 Degrees C. If it fails to open then it is faulty and new ones are approximately £25 from a motor factors or Halfords.

The 2 bolts used to hold the thermostat in place are Torx (star shaped heads) bolts and its a good idea to get a suitable Torx socket first. The socket is either E10 or E12 Im not exactly sure as I replaced my Torx bolts with regular hex head bolts.

Conclusion?

It _is_ the head gasket.

Will be having it pressure tested and skimmed if ness. Bill will not be more than £320

Once thats done I can go about getting it sold on. As per tradition, I will offer a 36hr return. Buy it, return it if you have doubts.