Hi Just registered, but have looked at site a few times in past. My Skoda Fabia 1.4MPI has just converted its self into a steam engine over the weekend.

On Friday was stuck in traffik (temps saying cold sometimes half way) when I noticed small amounts of steam coming from bonnet:( I was nearly at my destination and was late so pushed on switching off engine when I could. When I got back to car there was a small stream on ground from car it had boiled over. I topped up coolant with a emergancy bottle of water i keep in the car and drove back to work (20 miles 50MPH road) car seemed ok. That night I drove home (5 miles) switched of car to hear fizzing and see lots of steam whoosing from engine:rotz: it comes from left had side when looking at it from front lower down than header tank.

I hope its the water pump as I have seen something similar in another thread, because the alternative is grim HG with possible crack/warp head or block. Could anyone hazard a guess if its more likley to be HG or water pump or even something else.

Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks

some additional info:

I do short journeys 4-5 miles at a time mostly and have seen the mayo on my oil cap since I got the car 1+1/2 years ago,but had read on the forums not to worry too much. Have had small loss of coolant this year top up monthly(bit less than a pint), less often at start of year. My temp in car is always cold except when stationary for periods when it goes to middle then when driving it rapidly drops cold (me thinks thermostat is goosed (forums seem to back this up)).I'm not seeing noticeable white/grey smoke from exhaust

My engine has overheated in the past due to lack of coolant(when I first found out I was loosing it) temps read more reliably then but still always on the cool side in normal running.

I have read trough older threads and not managed to convince myself whether it was the head gasket or the water pump that have gone.

This is one of the good skodas that give you all sorts of challenges, broken springs, funny warning lights that come on randomly, power steering stopped (fluid gone when I eventually found the container) funny temps (mentioned earlier), random flat spots when taking off, dodgy central locking /windows, occasionally wont start starter needs a whack to release it. probably other things I cant think of right now.

as you say it could be one of many things...hg/water pump/dodgy thermostat/blocked radiator/split hose..gotta try eliminate them best you can..

I'm browsing on my phone, so can't put a link up for you, but if you Google 'ebay guides head gasket', and work through the one that's all in CAPITALS ( ) you should be able to rule out HG failure. If you're overheating, but the gauge is showing cold, then you may find that both your thermostat housing and the sensor have gone. You can buy both as a pack, and it's a relatively easy DIY job to fit... HTH

dodgy temp reading is almost always the sensor

you need to have a coolant pressure test done to find the leak, but it does sound like its the water pump

Thanks warwick hunt, ap0gee, ric04vrs.

I Have looked at the ebay page as have seen a link on another thread, I have some of symptoms but not all. I cant check coolant properly, I dont know when engine is up to temp until I replace the sensor/thermostat, heater does begin to get warm by time i get to work, but water maybe gone by then.

No oil in coolant that I can see, no white smoke, oil looks normal on dipstick.White mayo on oil cap maybe just moisture.

I cleaned off mayo this morning and put 2L of water but left filler cap loose I then drove 5 miles to work checked 2L gone no steaming no more mayo. I think this loss is too much too quick to be HG(hopefully). will replace sensor and thermostat as almost certainly goosed (thermo may be missing haven't checked).

Think there might have been pressure in the cooling system because when I leave the cap tight I get steam gushing out of engine but not when I leave cap loose, maybe thermo closed and blocking water flow causing small amount of water to heat up to steam.

My rad fans don't kick in could that be due to temp sensor or do they need fixing as well (will try running 12v directly to them at weekend.

Car doesn't overheat until I run low on coolant I think.

there will be a pressure build up when the coolant reservoir cap is tight, the steam is obviously the hot coolant coming out of the leak

Thanks to everyone It turns out that the water pump gasket had crumbled so took it off cleaned and used some instant gasket fixed braw. Didn't know how to release the tensioner on the aux belt so had to use a crow bar to lever it out the way. Luckily my water pump was metal finned so had not melted or warped. Now I just have to fix all the other annoyances(door seals and steering pump leak this weekend me thinks)

Ps thermostat housing was broke This I'm guessing was giving the funny temp readings

Edited 16 December, 200916 yr by The Worm