Just about sick of this car now......... help.....

[Paul A]

Hi,
Wife's 2.2 "B" petrol,Just had a new water pump and radiator fitted.
Drove it for maybe 2 miles (from cold) and it Bl***dy overheated again!
(Heater went cold at the same time!)
Thought it might be an air lock, so carefully refilled the coolant with the rad cap off and let the air bubble out.
It was fine for maybe 20 miles with a couple of very short stops (so the engine didn't really cool down a lot)
Anyway, the wife went to use it in the evening..... same thing! overheated within a couple of miles! from cold!
What seems to be happening when it overheats is that the coolant seems to be being pumped into the expansion tank until it fills and overflows!
Again today,after filling up again, this time bleeding the air off via the thermostat housing - it ran great for another trip of 15 miles or so.
Once the engine had cooled and I started on the return journey it starts to overheat again!
So........
Symptoms seem to be :
Heater suddenly goes cold,
temp guage starts to rise rapidly
Coolant gets pumped into expansion tank and overflows it.

I tried another rad cap in case the one that came with the new (Genuine Opel) was weak and not holding pressure.
Didn't make a great deal of difference!
This is really doing my head in....... I'm truly sick of this car now....... Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
I'm thinking maybe the thermostat???

[Drift]

Sorry to say it sounds like a head gasket failure

[Krusher]

Have to agree with drifty there...

[Hound Dog]

Will have to agree with Drifty and Krusher

[RatCav]

Does sound head gasket to me as well ... get a sniff test done on the coolant and see. If it is the head gasket I cannot stress how important it is to get the head skimmed and pressure tested on this engine.

[Krusher]

Yes, take the coolant bottle cap off and see whether the coolant smells of exhaust fumes, if it does then HG gone...

[bobbinsjob]

If you need a hand doing the gasket change, just give me a shout Paul, I'm only in stevenage

[4x4 bobby]

I concur with Drifty its the head gasket!!!!!

[Rich]

prior to having the water pump and the rad done what was happening to it

it might be something as simple as the thermostat not opening

[Sir-Doris]

It does sound like the HG but have you followed These Instructions on how to bleed the B series 2.2? 2nd post down. Its fairly temperamental when it comes to bleeding it properly. Worth a shot.

[N1ova]

Sounds like headgasket to me.Are you loosing water?Mine was burning it off so had white smoke coming outh the exhaust.When i removed the rad cap with the engine running i could see and smell exhaust fumes coming out of it.

[Shrekkles]

Definately sounds like the dreaded HG , it does happen like that sometimes , you fix a leak then cooling system picks on a weak spot once pressurized again

[Paul A]

Thanks everyone for your help!
I'll give the thermostat a try (could do with a new one anyway), and try the recommended method of bleeding out the air.
I'll likely as not report back it being the head gasket as nothing in my life is ever easy............

[fogman]

are you getting white exhaust smoke when its up to running temp ? all your symptoms will be caused by a h/g failure im affraid

[Paul A]

Hi Everyone,
Now I am positively SUICIDAL!
I went to pick up my wife from the station in my Frontera (2001 diesel).
Put it in 1st at a junction and there was an almighty bang from the back of the engine and it jumped out of gear.
NOW I HAVE NO DRIVE AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!
The propshaft isn't turning at all, none of the gears work,although it seems to go into gear and the clutch seems o.k. (it went maybe 10 yards or so very slowly).
I had a new "old stock" flywheel (dual mass) fitted a couple of months back (and clutch).
I have a real nasty feeling this may have let go - would that cause this?? ........ or maybe it's something else???
thanks..........in advance.......... one absolutely had it up to the back teeth owner........

[Drift]

Sounds like a thrust bearing to me.

[Paul A]

Hi Drifty,
Do you think it could be as simple as that?
I've just tried it and the clutch feels "Normal"......
I can operate the clutch and select gears absolutely fine, its just when you release the clutch there is no drive at all.
There is a slight "graunching" noise however.
I would have thought that I wouldn't be able to select gears at all if the bearing had failed (I'm probably completely wrong!)
Help!!!

[Drift]

Ive had it happen exactly the same on sherpa vans, 3 of them the MOD didint half pick some rubbish in the 80's
All went with a bang and all where the thrust bearings

[Paul A]

Hmmm, I hope so!
Strangely, the only thing that hasn't been replaced is the clutch bearing.
I did ask the guy who fitted the new flywheel and clutch to fit a new one........ but he "forgot"
When they failed on the Sherpas were you still able to get gears and the clutch felt o.k?
I'm likely going to take it to "Mr Clutch" in luton.
They SEEM o.k. and at least their work is "warrantied".
I'm guessing if it is that I'll be needing a new clutch (or at least plate) too ..........

[Paul A]

Oh God........
Just tried it again and I can select gears (with the engine running) Without using the clutch!
Gearbox???