Hi I'm looking for a bit of advice about this problem.

I have had this 2001 Fabia since September 2008 and noticed that it need a new thermostat as it never reached temp and mileage was low.

This I did 3 weeks ago however the car has started overheating.

The coolant boils over in the expansion bottle all the top hoses are boiling to the touch but the radiator is cool (warm at the top , stone cold at the bottom. The temperature gauge in the car stays at the middle point even though the coolant is boiling and venting out the expansion bottle. The radiator fan doesn't come on ( I haven't managed to check the fan as I cannot remove the connection to the fan switch is it a pull push fit? it seems very difficult to get off)

The heater works fine belting out hot air.

What I would like is a bit of advice ie could it be a faulty thermostat (even as it's new).

Could it be a faulty water pump?

I'm certain there is no airlock in the system.

What about a blocked or restricted radiator?

What I do not understand is how the temperature gauge stays in the middle while the coolant is boiling?

This has coincided with a recent spell of hot weather but I don't know if that has anything to do with the overheating.

The car is due to go into a local garage next week however if any body can give advice it would be much welcomed.

Yours Andy C :confused:

As all the pipework is getting really really hot, but the radiator is staying warm/cold then it sounds like you have a blockage before the rad. You could just try taking the inlet pipe to the rad off and see if anything flows out. If it does then you know that the blockage is in the rad, rather than the pipework.

I could be wrong and I expect someone will correct me soon but I THINK that the temp gauge shows oil temperature. Sure I read that somewhere, could be wrong though.

Logic suggests that it is the thermostat, as it's the only thing you've changed. It could be u/s or the wrong temp range. You could test it in a pan of hot water quite easily.

Sounds like you have some good advice re the possible blockage I'd like to confirm when my thermostat packed up (radiator stone cold) blowing water out of the header tank that my temperature guage stayed in the middle. Is this a common Skoda problem? bit worrying really if you don't get any warning of an over-heat situation:mad:

G/friend's 1.4 16v Fabia had almost exactly the same symptoms. Overheating, rad hot at top but coll at bottom, rad fan not cutting in, etc. Previous owner had removed the thermostat (probably in attempt to get it to stay cool – idiot...) so replaced that but no better. It turned out it was the water pump – impeller had separated from the shaft. Replaced the pump and no overheating problems since.

Steady temp gauge probably caused by coolant simply not being circulated...

It can be the water pump impellor fallen off, thermostat not opening or someone messed around with the water hoses and connected them to the wrong outlets. The water pump would be the hardest to change so check out other things first.

The 8v has the timing chain and not a belt so at least you don't need to worry about having the cambelt done at the same time as the water pump if that is the prob.

The Thermostat might not be fitted correctly or just stuck. what about the temp sender/housing?

Test it and see what happens.

Rad fan switch? Should pull out but then you may need to unscrew it from the rad.

The waterpump on the 8v engine is easy to change - remove serpentine belt, then pulley (4 bolts) then pump (2 bolts and 2 nuts). They are not dear and its well worth doing at this age - BTW - have you checked the serpentine belt tension??

The thermostat is a slightly odd affair on these cars and I believe there are at least two types fitted. IIRC the temp gauge sender is in the thermostat housing. I would get a new thermostat (ensure it correct for the type of housing you have fitted) and give the rad a good back-flush with a hose.

With new pump and thermo fitted, start the engine from cold and feel the top hose as the engine warms up. The top hose will get slightly warm and then there will be a sudden gush of heat as the thermostat opens and hot water passes through the rad. The top hose will suddenly become almost too hot to hold. This is my simple and basic check on any car for water pump and thermo correct operation.