My coolant is up to the max line and sometimes the car complains and beeps about the level of coolant

I have read here that this is down to a dodgy sensor - Where are they on the car and can a scrap sensor be used??

Can I buy one new from VW Spares??

Thanks

You can`t get the sensors seperately I am afraid

But they are only approx £10

GSF , Euro ar Parts or any dealers should be able to help

Sarah

The sensor is on the side of the expansion tank, it is possible to scrape the existing contacts with a screwdriver as a temp fix for the problem. Only remove the expansion tank cap if the engine is cold, doing it at any other time will result in the possibilty of you getting burnt.

Yep, very easy to D.I.Y. If your Fabia hasn't had it's coolant replaced in the past 4 years you may as well change that at the same time. Although you can change the expansion tank without loosing any coolant.

You'll need:

a star headed screwdriver for the undertray

a 10mm socket with an extension

a pair of long nosed pliers

an expansion tank (around £11 from Euro Car Parts)

Some proper orangey pink VW coolant around £17 for 5 litres (don't get the blue stuff, that's for pikeys)

An ability to do some hairy chested man work GGGGGRRRRR!

The drain for the radiator can't be reached without unscrewing the dark nightmare known the under tray, but you can get away with just undoing the two screws on the N/S corner of the tray and just pull it down enough to give you access. You'll find the drain plug is actually a tap similar to that on a 5 liter keg of beer.

Once you've drained all the original coolant (take the top off the expansion tank for it to flow faster) & if you have access to a hose run some water through the system. It's okay to start the engine and idle to get it running through faster (just be careful the water level doesn't disappear) stop once the water coming out is clear.

If you don't have access to a hose, like me, you can fill a bucket of hot water with the theory that the hot water will open the thermostat and rise out your water ways more thoroughly....er hem.

To replace the tank you use your long nosed pliers to open the hose clips and move them down the hose about an inch so you can remove them from the old expansion tank.

There are some weird plastic caps on top of the nuts you need to get at, so just pull them off

Use your 10mm socket with extension to untwist your nuts

Once those are removed, you can pull away the two metal legs for a black box that shares these fixing points.

Underneath there are two more 10mm bolts (they look like a nut on a thread but once removed you'll find they're a freaky double ended bolt).

The metal legs will try and get in your way but don't let them, swear at them if you have to.

Then just remove anything else you can see attaching the expansion tank to the car.

Pop in the new tank reattaching all the pipes etc and making sure the radiator drain is closed.

Fill with your brand new coolant to the full level, once you've replaced the under tray go for a spin round the block, you'll find the coolant level will drop again to the point that the temp sensor will ping and you'll think that all your efforts have been wasted.

Don't worry, it pings when the coolant level is low, this is because all the air has now moved to the top of the system so just fill it back up to the max fill level again and your performance diesel should be good for another 4 years.

Edited 17 February, 201016 yr by rapeseedracer