Temp gauge + heater is cold

[Riz]

27/11/08

Hi All,

Its me again soz to be such a pest. If you search my previous questions you will know i have been having high temp prblems. I will be quick and brief.

Own a 2000 V Reg Fronteras 2.2i Limited Petrol 64k on clock.

The temp started to hit the red before the fan kicked in even on small runs etc, even from start it would hit the red within minutes. Went to a garage they flushed the radiator and put in new cooland etc charged me £150.00 and problem was still there. Got in contact with you guys was advised to change the thermostat as it sounded like that. That was done by the garage again at a cost of £200.00 OUCH ! It seems steady now but will still creep up in heavy traffic or when idling it will reach around 100 before fan kicks in is this k ?? " There seems to be no leaks "

Now i have realised that when the temp gauge hits the 100 on the gauge the heater blows cold air and will do this until the temp is back to the first notch, why is this happening ??? The car has never been used for towing and has never been off road.

Now the garage are saying it could be the head gasket.

I would appreciate all the help , being a single parent with 3 kids the bills for this Fronti are scandelous and i just feel as though i am being ripped off.

Tried to be as brief as possible.

HOPE YOU CAN ADVISE ME ON WHAT IT COULD BE

Thanks

Riz

[james'll fix it]

Hi
I don't use a garage, but £200 for a thermostat sounds HIGH.
The thermostat is about £25 and an hour to fit max.
Where do you take the car? Main dealers?

Check the oil filler cap on the top of the engine, it may be white mayo type stuff all over, another sign of head gaskett failure.
Do you have water in the expansion tank. If it is empty maybe get a mobile mech to check the head gasket by doing a compression test. I say mobile as driving with the head gasket gone can cause a shed load of problems. The 2.2's have a history of poping the head gasket.

Cold air is due to no water in the heater, either air lock or loss of coolant. I think to get rid of an air lock, run the car with the water cap off, allow to get to temp, maybe give the hoses a squeeze to force water round. Keeping the expansion tank half full.


Maybe after spending 350 at the garage and still a problem it is a reflection of the garage's ability. I wouldn't be happy at all.

[Sir-Doris]

As above, 200 for a thermostat is a ripoff as it is very easy to access on these engine. If no heating at all then air lock in the heater matrix.

But best bet is a head pressure test as above.

[tws7501968]

To be brutally frank, find another garage as what you have paid for what you say they have done is nothing short of extortion

Throughout your posts the garage seem to be intent on doing a head gasket for you, and i can only imagine what they think they might like to dream up as a charge for that!

Personally i'd be looking for local advice on finding a reputable garage, willing to actually find the problem by diagnosis and a few simple cheap tests, rather than paying out those sorts of figures...for not much. In my opinion i'm not sure even a main dealer could justify £200.

Cooling system pressure test, compression test, sniff test all been mentioned, cheap, quick and easy and will tell a decent mechanic more than enough to make a far better diagnosis.

[Riz]

Thanks you all for the advice. I will try running tasnk with cap off, is it the radiator cap i need to taake off to try get rid of air lock or is it the 1 for the expansion tank also.

Thanks

Riz

[Sir-Doris]

Both, squeeze the radiator hoses as well. you should hear a bubbling sound as the air is expelled.