I have a 55 plate vrs 1.9 the temp gage keeps going up and down but never over 90degrees, the heaters inside the car go hot and cold when they feel like it and every few days i hav too top up the water coolant back up too max level, its starting too get cold in the mornings and need too get this sorted out soon any ideas?

Take the small coolant pipe off the top of the coolant reservoir (where u top up the coolant).. when running at idle coolant shud have a steady trickle out.. when at 2000 rpm it shoud flow out.

If it doesnt ur coolant pump will req changing.

If it does then id replace the thermostat + temp sensor + have a good look around under the car for coolant leaks (leaves a white/ pink residue even when it has dried up)

Also worth checking the metal pipes on the bulkhead that go inside to the heater matrix.

We were loosing a lot of coolant at one point (completely empty in the 1 mile to the garage the last time!).

Turned out to be these pipes which had corroded and broken. Was leaking onto the exhaust so no coolant could be spotted coming from the bottom of the car.

Also seen this on a few other cars on here lately.

Phil

Nice one ill be looking into these later this afternoon!

Just done a 30 mile run and the bottom pipe of the rad is cold now tht cant be right surly. ?

Either dodgy thermostat, blocked radiator or water pump.

Do you get water flowing back into the expansion tank through the small pipe at the top?

Phil

Yeah it runs back in, just had a look round and cant see any leaks im thinking its a blockage and its making the water stay in the engine getting hot then boiling out the expansion tanks when it does get too 90 degrees? Or is that a mad idea lol

No that sounds about right.

So is the top radiator hose warm?

If so then the thermostat is open but then there is likely a blockage in the radiator.

phil

Guna put a jet wash down the radiator at the weekend tht will unblock that i rekon! Thanks for the advice pal!

By a blockage in the raditor I mean an internal one that would cause the coolant to not be able to flow through.

Phil