Car Overheated / Overheating / Overheats [MERGED]

[NTRCOOL]

OVERHEATING? The issues and their solutions have remained the same- either you don't have enough cool air reaching the rad, there's a cooling system obstruction which is preventing coolant from circulating, or your head gasket has failed and is allowing coolant to be consumed or pushed away from the engine.

Discuss all possible overheating problems and solutions here.


OK,
I just left my house to go over to my GF's,and happen to look down and see my needle right before the red mark. This just happened out of nowhere. I stop the car as quickly as i can, and pour in some coolant(Coolant a little low). Still same thing. Welp im in the middle of the road, and HAD to get it home. Im only 5 min from my house. I decided to try and make it(I really had no other choice). Welp I drive no faster than 20mph, and the temp needle is BARELY into the red the whole way.And occasionaly to the left of it. Am I ok?? Do ya think any damage was done?? And im thinking either thermostat, or water pump. For each of those, whats a round about $$ figure to get replaced?? Any info you have would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[chris_taylor123]

Do you have any duct work to force air into the rad after it passes through your FMIC?
Air follows the path of least resistance.

In other words if your turbo is sucking up all the air your radiator might not be getting shit

 

[ShawnsGarage]

In other words if your turbo is sucking up all the air your radiator might not be getting shit

Any reason you have such a big I/C? Your profile says you have a 16g and that i/c is way more than you need. All things listed above will cause the car to over heat.

 

[DGajre777]

... add crappy fans and a clogged A/C condenser to the list above. I don't mean clogged internally, I mean bent fins or damage that doesn't allow air to through it.

 

[joro702]

I had the same problem that you are having. It ended up being my thermostat had to just be replaced. It is inexpensive and only takes a few minutes to put in. You should also check your radiator to see if you have any leaks, and check your coolant levels. I have a large fmic also but i have never overheated to the point where it is dangerous so you should check all the lines make sure no hoses are kinked and there are no clogs throughout your system.

-jr

 

[Maas]

When you installed the FMIC did you remove all the ductwork that vents air to the engine bay?

 

[chris_taylor123]

When you installed the FMIC did you remove all the ductwork that vents air to the engine bay?

:O So Much crap... he needs to answer questions XD

 

[kip477]

well the car over heated when i would try to get it into boost. and then i would be driving on the freeway and it went all the way up... but i had a friend of mine put the intercooler in and i think it maybe be the thermostat... but there is so much things that everyone is saying thats wrong and now im confused and thing my whole car is broken -___-"

 

[dsmer1994]

Check your radiator after you drive it a little and see if it runs hot or cold. if it runs cold It is the thermostat im going through the same problem. It may not be letting hot water to cycle back through. also check and see if ## fans kick on (simple ik) but some people over look that just because they simply dont think about it. please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Elek_ron_ix]

Is there any smoke coming out of the Exhaust? If so what color? I would start with your thermostat for sure since it's inexpensive and common. Check all your hoses that are connected to the cooling system. Ensure your radiator cap is sealing properly and also your cap just above your thermostat. Also try wiring your fans so they run all the time or ensure there coming on when there supposed to. Goodluck, Hopefully it's a simple solution and not the headgasket.

 

[chris_taylor123]

Start with the essentials.. Thermostat... Radiator Fans.. Keep in mind your car has to get up to temp to see if either will kick on.. also turn your heater on and see if it is running cold..

One of your hoses could be lose and leaking coolant. I had one of my heater hoses dry rot and it was leaking really slowly so I couldnt tell Why the hell it was overheating with a thermostat, Radiator, and fan change.. Then if that doesnt work start looking at some of the other stuff people listed.. May need to do a flush..

 

[Blurred Talon]

well the car over heated when i would try to get it into boost. and then i would be driving on the freeway and it went all the way up... but i had a friend of mine put the intercooler in and i think it maybe be the thermostat... but there is so much things that everyone is saying thats wrong and now im confused and thing my whole car is broken -___-"

Does it over heat at idle?
Does the heat drop with the heater cranked to max?

I'm still thinking this is simply and air flow issue. I see so many posts on so many forums from people with huge FMIC and over heating issues. You need duct work to force air to go through the radiator after passing through the FMIC.

 

[chris_taylor123]

Does it over heat at idle?
Does the heat drop with the heater cranked to max?

I'm still thinking this is simply and air flow issue. I see so many posts on so many forums from people with huge FMIC and over heating issues. You need duct work to force air to go through the radiator after passing through the FMIC.

Thats probably it.. you really dont need that big of a FMIC.

 

[nek]

Fmic should not cause overheating. He already said he had a blown headgasket. Thats gonna cause overheating in itself. Its easier to find whats wrong when you have an understanding of the system. If you dont overheat at idle then usually air flow isnt the issue.
If your lower radiator hose gets really hot, it either means your coolant mix could be off, or your radiator is insufficient. Also your tstat could not be allowing enough cooling time.
If you let your engine cool and the cooling system is still pressurized, it means something else is pressurizing the system besides your coolant expansion. This will cause you to push coolant, which does not allow coolant back into the system.
Obviously things like water pump and debris can effect coolant flow.
The cooling system can have alot of problems but its easy to narrow it down. Research!

 

[Blurred Talon]

Fmic should not cause overheating. He already said he had a blown headgasket. Thats gonna cause overheating in itself. Its easier to find whats wrong when you have an understanding of the system. If you dont overheat at idle then usually air flow isnt the issue.
If your lower radiator hose gets really hot, it either means your coolant mix could be off, or your radiator is insufficient. Also your tstat could not be allowing enough cooling time.
If you let your engine cool and the cooling system is still pressurized, it means something else is pressurizing the system besides your coolant expansion. This will cause you to push coolant, which does not allow coolant back into the system.
Obviously things like water pump and debris can effect coolant flow.
The cooling system can have alot of problems but its easy to narrow it down. Research!

Guh?
If air flow has nothing to do with idle. There's no air flow at idle because you are sitting still and the fan is pulling air through the rad to cool it. When moving at speed and the air has gaps to escape through, it will overheat even with a fan. I've seen it time and time again. A bit of duct work and sealing things up solves the problem.

I'm not saying it's his problem 100% but it's likely helping make things worse.

 

[joro702]

Check your radiator after you drive it a little and see if it runs hot or cold. if it runs cold It is the thermostat im going through the same problem. It may not be letting hot water to cycle back through. also check and see if ## fans kick on (simple ik) but some people over look that just because they simply dont think about it. please correct me if I am wrong.

It is going to run hot either way he has a blown headgasket. So either way his fans are going to kick on because its going to be running hotter than it normally would. Unless he is having trouble with the fans not being able to turn on. Correct me if i am wrong.

-jr

 

[nek]

Guh?
If air flow has nothing to do with idle. There's no air flow at idle because you are sitting still and the fan is pulling air through the rad to cool it. When moving at speed and the air has gaps to escape through, it will overheat even with a fan. I've seen it time and time again. A bit of duct work and sealing things up solves the problem.

I'm not saying it's his problem 100% but it's likely helping make things worse.

So what your saying is less air gets into the radiator when driving?
Fans are going to pull the same amount of air driving or not. Extra air will be pushed through from ram effect obviously. Your right about some air escaping but your least amount of air flow through the radiator is always at idle. The big difference is the engine isnt producing as much heat at idle vs driving but Im just trying to give him ideas.

 

[kip477]

im taking everyones idea into consideration. im gunna start off by changing the headgasket and then start checking certain things. the car didnt over heat at idle. but then again i would never really be at idle after i got the car back. but im going to cut the bumper a little and change the head gasket. mainly things seem to be pointing to the thermostat getting stuck open or something so ima check that out this weekend.
i appriciate everyones thoughts and ideas.

 

[Detective Coating]

Change the water pump while you're in there. I'm guessing you are leaking coolant somewhere if it gets to overheating while crusing on the highway.

 

[rubenrule]

remove your thermostat and see if it overheats thats were ill start

 

[millermanx69]

i had this issue with my 92 tsi, checked everything, bad water pump... i just cant get the lower cam cover off the bolts are like super tight or just rusted one of the too...time to use pb blaster i guess haha

 

[millermanx69]

so i got the water pump and timing done, but now it makes a deep whining noise and vibration when im at or around 3000+ rpms...any suggestions

 

[Colt4G63 also]

You must have put your rear balance shaft out of phase; that makes a vibration at 3000+.

 

[Orion97gs-t]

So my car was running hot only when my rpms are around 3k. I will be on the fwy or anytime my rpms stay above 3k for more than 10 sec gauge starts to go up. I warmed my car up and held it at 3k rpms for a while a gauge went up to 3/4 the way than let throttle go, and back down it went. checked the t-stat wasnt one there, so i bought a new one and put it in, new rad cap, its not overflowing or leaking or bubbling over, oil not milky, fans turn on. No kinks in hoses or leaks nothing i can see on rad fins that ma be clogging it. Is the rad just bad? or the gauge possibly.

 

[Blurred Talon]

Possible bad water pump?

 

[rimmbrme]

sounds like a clogged cooling system, flush engine and radiator seperate and see if your getting a good flow.

other possible causes
coolant condition
head gasket going bad
or water pump fins ate up

I'd check all these first before ruling out the temp gauge