I have a fabia 1.4 8V, W plate and is currently leaking coolant from expansion bottle when it get's hot, had a new expansion bottle and cap before xmas, water pump was repalced 6 months ago,

when engine at normal running temp after a few miles radiator is stone cold on touch but yet coolant boiling out,

any ideas

Probably a head gasket.

Have a look down the right hand side of the head at the gasket, see if it has a T or Temac written on it.

Could also be a thermostat though if your pipes are staying cold, id have a look at that first. Pop out the coolant temp sensor and see if you can see a bit of metal underneath. If you can the stat has collapsed. Good news is they aint expensive and easy to change.

Edited 1 January, 201115 yr by Tech1e

had head gasket done at same time as water pump

Stat then i'd say

stat been done and its, pipes now getting warm for rad, but yet still it comes out of expansion bottle

stat been done and its, pipes now getting warm for rad, but yet still it comes out of expansion bottle

Hi, might sound a daft question - is your coolant pinky or blue?

Ben

If the radiator is not getting warm, then either water is not getting pumped around (water pump), the thermostat is not opening to allow water into the radiator, or there is a blockage somewhere in the coolant system.

If none of the above yeild results you need a block test to check the cooling system for gases, sounds like its over presurising.

pink coolant,

have back flushed rad and it runs thru,

think water pump is working as heater matrix gets hot as coolant gets hot,and only had it repalced in july 2010

Edited 9 January, 201115 yr by tarnie2011

I'd be curious to know what your temperature gauge is showing when the engine is warm. Is it showing that the engine is overheating / does it fluctuate up and down irratically?

A few members have already posted this, but I'd have to say the same. If the rad is still cold when the engine's hot then I'd say thermostat. I know you said you've had it replaced, but take the thermostat out and put the housing back together and run the engine / take the car for a spin. The engine will take longer to warm up, but you won't be waiting for the thermostat to open and rad should get hot as long as there is no blockage and your water pump is working. Check if your heater blows out hot air. If the pipes and rad get hot try sticking a new stat in there.

What was the cause of the headgasket failure in the first place? Overheating? Also was there any rusty gunge / **** in the old header tank or coming out of the pipes when the system was drained? There might be a blockage...

Generally I'd say that backpressure in a header tank is down to the following reasons:

- header tank was overfilled with coolant in the first place and when engine gets hot it's forced out due to expansion

- faulty stat

- headgasket

- water pump.

- leaky header tank / cap

In terms of tracing the root cause, I'd go down the cheaper routes first such as stat etc. You've recently had the expansion tank replaced so I'd rule that out.

I appreciate you had some major work done 6 months ago, but headgaskets have a habit of rearing their ugly head again if not fixed properly in the first place. Try the above and if it's not your stat, and there's no blockage then I'd have to say headgasket or water pump. Always keep your eye on the temperature gauge to see what the engine's doing

Just my 2 p's worth based on years of experience with British Leyland cars and Fords LOL!

I'd be curious to know what your temperature gauge is showing when the engine is warm. Is it showing that the engine is overheating / does it fluctuate up and down irratically?

A few members have already posted this, but I'd have to say the same. If the rad is still cold when the engine's hot then I'd say thermostat. I know you said you've had it replaced, but take the thermostat out and put the housing back together and run the engine / take the car for a spin. The engine will take longer to warm up, but you won't be waiting for the thermostat to open and rad should get hot as long as there is no blockage and your water pump is working. Check if your heater blows out hot air. If the pipes and rad get hot try sticking a new stat in there.

What was the cause of the headgasket failure in the first place? Overheating? Also was there any rusty gunge / **** in the old header tank or coming out of the pipes when the system was drained? There might be a blockage...

Generally I'd say that backpressure in a header tank is down to the following reasons:

- header tank was overfilled with coolant in the first place and when engine gets hot it's forced out due to expansion

- faulty stat

- headgasket

- water pump.

- leaky header tank / cap

In terms of tracing the root cause, I'd go down the cheaper routes first such as stat etc. You've recently had the expansion tank replaced so I'd rule that out.

I appreciate you had some major work done 6 months ago, but headgaskets have a habit of rearing their ugly head again if not fixed properly in the first place. Try the above and if it's not your stat, and there's no blockage then I'd have to say headgasket or water pump. Always keep your eye on the temperature gauge to see what the engine's doing

Just my 2 p's worth based on years of experience with British Leyland cars and Fords LOL!

temp guage rises staedily, the expansion bottle was a bit gungy when it was replace

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by tarnie2011