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  • Audi A4 Avant - 2007 Audi A4 2.0L TDI Water Leaking From Engine? 11 May 2012 (Forum)
      The coolant does not seem to be leaking from the heater matrix as I am not getting condensation into the car. The next step would be to take the head off while it is all apart but the expense is starting to add up and I'm a bit concerned.
  • Vauxhall Vectra C - Engine Coolant Temperature 9 Mar 2012 (Forum)
    2003 Vectra C 1.8 718XE engine 50500 miles I have owned the above vehicle from new. A the beginning of October last the temperature gauge started showing...
  • VW Passat 1.9TDI 100 (PD) - MPG seems too low? 28 Jan 2012 (Forum)
      The engine wasn't running at normal temp (true reading from the cliamtic control panel showed the temp wasn't going above mid 60's).  I've since replaced the coolant temp sender/thermostat and coolant (50/50mix) and the car now runs at the normal 90degC and warms up much faster.  That was last night, and on my journey in today, I got an average of around 39mpg.
  • 51 Plated Beetle 2.0 Petrol (83000 miles). - Vw Beetle Cold Running. 29 Nov 2010 (Forum)
    Temps this week, when she has started the vehicle, have been between 3 and 5 deg c.  It suggets to me that the coolant temp sensor is faulty and have just booked it in for a diagnotic check but thought that someone may have had the same problem and I could save her some money. Any comments or advice welcomed.
  • Ford Focus TDdi - Engine cooling fan 19 Jul 2010 (Forum)
    The temp gauge always stays in the middle whether the fan is on or off, so the engine appears to stay at normal operating temp once reached and the coolant level is fine. I'm wondering (and hoping) that it may just be an over sensitive temperature sensor which is activating the fan whenever the engine is put under slight strain. Or could it be a sign that the engine is overheating and not registering on the temp gauge?
  • Rover 214 - excessive exhaust emissions 26 May 2010 (Forum)
      Spark plugs were dry and clean.  The gasket had slight evidence of a possible blow but no mixing of oil and water/coolant evident - the head was smooth and clean.  Everything else was good - replaced all with the new kit and new coolant. cam belt good. Air filter clean and good - changed the oil and the oil filter obviously. manifold gaskets changed too.
  • Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 99 1.6 cooling fan too keen 29 Jan 2010 (Forum)
    It does not have a heated screen and the aircon is not on at the time (I've checked that the electric clutch is disengaged). The problem dates from last summer when I changed the coolant. There seemed to be an airlock as the temp gauge went high and erratic, also the coolant level dropped. Topped up and it hasn't dropped since. But soon after that the a/c would not switch off.
  • Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 99 1.8 Burning Smell coming through vents 30 Mar 2009 (Forum)
    Although after a long journey along country roads and some pretty big hills the smell was particularly bad. I've had a look under the bonnet and noticed what looks like coolant residue (flaky pink stuff) on the right hand side of the engine. I've also noticed that the coolant level is now down below the minimum, but not by a large amount. I've not noticed any marks on the ground under the car.
  • FIAT Grande Punto (2006 - 2009) - 2007 1.9 Poor Fuel Economy After Crash 28 Nov 2008 (Forum)
    Any how I have now noticed that my average fuel consumption has gone from being about 42mpg down to 35mpg after the crash. The only thing I can think is that when the accident happened all the coolant from the engine leaked out of the pipe that connects to the intercooler. I have noticed a coolant leak since its been repaired, they took it back and re-connected something, but it is still giving bad MPG figuresand also the turbo is nosier now as well.
  • 2000 w plate Pug 1.9D oil/water leak 2 Mar 2007 (Forum)
    He asked around his pug contacts and they confirmed this as a possibility. Get on with the job then sir and £80 later job done. It still appears to be leaking coolant, which is now grey rather than black although i would expect this as although the system was well flushed out the radiator has not been changed. My question to the forum iswhy should it stil be leaking coolant from the overflow of the expansion bottle?
  • focus hell 1 May 2003 (Forum)
    Three weeks later and the spark plugs are again surrounded by coolant and now the garage are saying that the head plugs are leaking. Does this sound credible or has anyone else had a similar focus problem? I dont think my garage have a clue but i'm kind of stumped too.
  • Ford Kuga engine replaced under warranty - why am I being charged for the oil and spark plugs? 24 Sep 2021 (Ask HJ)
    My 2018 1.5 EcoBoost petrol Ford Kuga has been with the dealer for four weeks waiting for a new engine to be fitted under warranty. I reported it was using...
  • Extralube ZX1 4 Mar 2015 (Forum)
    Has anyone used this water/petrol/coolant additive in the past. I have and believe it has had a positive effect. Anyone else care to comment? I was thinking of buying some more but it's quite expensive. Can anyone suggest where I might find some reliable test-data?
  • VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating 29 Oct 2011 (Forum)
    Hope someone can help, have recentley bought this car, superb history, had new rad, water pump in January. Just had new coolant sensor and expansion tank put in, but still overheating. Fine for small journeys, but motorway nightmare
  • Hotter heater radiator additive 28 Oct 2006 (Forum)
    I saw an advert in a motor mag about a product that claimed to help the internal heater heat 50% faster. The product is called something like Hotter Heater or similar, just add to the radiator coolant and away it goes. Has anyone used this product and if so how effective is it and is it safe for all engines petrol/diesel ?
  • Humph 12 Jul 2006 (Forum)
    £650 for a 3 door N reg Fiesta 1.25 with 98,000 on the clock, but with no oil in the sump or road tax and a rapidly decaying battery. Think it had the wrong coolant in it too. Still, I got twenty quid out of it. Very annoying though. Rant over...
  • Frontera heater matrix 5 Aug 2003 (Forum)
    I have a j-reg Frontera 2.3 td that has developed a leak in the heater matrix, (passenger footwell constantly soaked and coolant disappearing!). Is the heater matrix the same as any other vehicle (so I can get one from the local scrap yard, I'm a poor man!), or is it specific to the Frontera? Please help me, Roj.
  • I found smoking oil on the back of my Renault Clio's engine. What could have caused this? 21 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
    I was driving my 2002 1.5 Renault Clio diesel (78,000 miles) the other day when the engine started to make a gurgling noise. I pulled over straightaway,...
  • Volkswagen Polo III (1994 - 1999) - 1996 1.4 - gunge around oil cap 28 Feb 2008 (Forum)
    Hello, I've performed my fortnightly oil and water check today and noticed my coolant was right down - not enough to set off a warning light but it must've been blooming close to it. Anyway, when I opened up the oil cap I noticed a fair build up of creamy gunge clinging to the bottom of the cap with a little bit on the inside of where I put the oil (dunno the proper term for it!)
  • vw corrado/golf gti eng. temp. problem 22 Dec 2004 (Forum)
    A mate kindly gave me a replacement gauge but I had to figure out what was causing the problem before fitting the replacement one. I also have some coolant loss but despite many checks there is no evidence of coolant loss anywhere in the engine bay. A couple of friends and some Tech. Motor club members suspected the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor, it also influences idle stabilisation I understand, is this true does anyone know?.
 

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