Skoda Octavia Estate 1.9TDI 4X4 overheating when towing!

[Casper46]

Hi, I have 2005 skoda octavia estate 1.9tdi 4x4 with 90k. Prior to us buying from family the car was remapped to a 2.0ltr spec. The car is used for towing our caravan, Sterling Eccles with a mtplm 1350kg. We have had it for 2yrs now and have had no problems with everyday running and towing- towed around Lake District, from north to South Wales and around Norfolk without any problems. However, we paid for major service inc water pump and timing belt last year at 84k. After this service the car overheated whilst on m1 on way down to Windsor after about 1hrs driving. We took it back to garage and they replaced water pump (under warranty) but the car still continues to overheat after approx 1hrs driving, but only when towing. The car is fine under normal driving conditions. Checked oil which is fine, not emulsified. Had it pressure checked, no obv problems/leaks visible. Friend said it may be overheating because wrong/cheap oil was used on service, could this be case? Or is there something more sinister going on, ie hairline crack somewhere? Thinking about changing car as lost faith in it, but the thing stopping me is Pre-service the car was faultless! Hope this makes sense and you can help!

Thanks

Paul

[BlacklineMRM]

Hi Paul how soon after the cambelt and water pump was changed did you start having problems with the motor

Cheers Mike

[Casper46]

Hi Mike,

Used for 1wk normal road use then first time towing overheated on M1 after approx 60mins. Changed water pump/thermostat and reflushed system plus rad weld after this but still problem persists every time I tow caravan!!

Cheers

Paul

[nick74]

Daft question perhaps, but have you checked if the electric cooling fans are working?

[Casper46]

Hi nick 74

Yeah cooling fans are working, had car to VAG specialist couple weeks ago who checked car and said it was mechanically sound, but also said problem is going to hard to diagnose as its a intermittent fault which only occurs when engine is under extra pressure ie towing.

Began to think if caravan load was to much for car, but checked towing ratio and its within limits, plus before service car pulled caravan without any problems at all!!

Could cheap/wrong oil type be responsible?

Thanks

Paul

[drefaldwyn]

Just an idea ...... could be well wide of the mark ....... but I wonder if the timing could be a tooth or two out following the belt change.

 

That's my two pennorth for what it's worth.

 

Hope you get it sorted,

 

Dave

[meta55b]

Has a pressure test been carried out on the cooling system, was the radiator taken out the car to be checked, cleaned. It could also still be a faulty water pump, maybe a batch problem.

[nick74]

Personally I would doubt the grade of oil would make that much difference to the overheating, but it's not a good idea generally to use incorrect types of oil in PD engines as it can lead to camshaft wear.

I once had a similar problem with a Citroen BX diesel overheating under load that was eventually traced to a partially silted up radiator. The car would run fine most of the time, but hard driving or towing in hot weather would soon have it overheating. That was cured with a new rad, the old one was only working at about half it's capacity. The bottom half of it was blocked solid.

I wonder if the water pump change on yours has caused some debris to become lodged in the cooling system somewhere, partially blocking the water flow?

[Casper46]

Hi Dave, forgive my ignorance as not very mechanically minded but if is out timing out a fraction would this cause overheating? Would car not run true normally if timing out?

Meta55b- car had been pressure checked. don't think radiator was taken off but I've flushed system out myself and then put in rad weld in case any leaks. Car doesn't lose any fluid under normal driving, just when towing it overheats/loses fluid.

Thanks

Paul

[rwbaldwin]

One possibility is that the temperature sensor to the dash is faulty. When it shows the car overheating, are the fans running at full speed (really loud).

Are you loosing coolant?

[rwbaldwin]

Just seen post #9. Often, the seal between the reservoir and cap is not tested.

[Casper46]

Hi Nick

Thanks for the input. It's going to hard to track down this intermittent problem but might start with radiator change, just dont want to fall into trap of throwing good money after bad and not rectifying problem!!

Thanks

Paul

[Casper46]

Hi rwbaldwin

Replaced reservoir cap myself after service.

Yeah fans working (very loudly!) when overheating and water bubbling up.

Thanks

Paul

[rwbaldwin]

Hi rwbaldwin

Replaced reservoir cap myself after service.

Yeah fans working (very loudly!) when overheating and water bubbling up.

Thanks

Paul

In that case I would have a block test performed. This tests for exhaust gases in the coolant.

[booke23]

Just an idea ...... could be well wide of the mark ....... but I wonder if the timing could be a tooth or two out following the belt change.

 

I think your right. 

 

As you have had absolutely no problems with towing until you has this service carried out, I too would suspect a timing issue after the belt change. The cam has to be locked with a pin, and to properly tension the belt the cam sprocket has to be partially unbolted to allow the tensioner to take up all the slack in the belt. If the pin is not properly inserted (really easy to do) the timing will be out when it is put back together. The timing will be slightly too far advanced which is why you are getting overheating issues.

 

Although there may well be some other underlying issue, before you spend any money on radiators etc I think it would be well worth getting the garage who did it to check the timing. Out of interested, who performed the service? 

Edited 31 May, 2014 by booke23

[Casper46]

Hi booke23

Thanks for the advice, a few other people away from this forum have mentioned checking the timing so will exhaust this avenue first.

It wasn't a main dealer we went too, in hindsight I wish we did, but in these times of austerity we were trying to save money so booked into a garage we have used a few times before on previous cars for services/mot's. Garage is Hunningley Lane garage, Barnsley. Lot cheaper then main dealer but obviously not as knowledgable! Lesson learnt!!

Do you or anybody have any suggestions for good main dealer/independent garages in Barnsley/south yorkshire area.

Many thanks in advance

Paul

[Anddenton]

Might be wrong but I've heard of these types of problems on vag cars being put down to incorrect coolant in the past?

[booke23]

Hi booke23
Thanks for the advice, a few other people away from this forum have mentioned checking the timing so will exhaust this avenue first.
It wasn't a main dealer we went too, in hindsight I wish we did, but in these times of austerity we were trying to save money so booked into a garage we have used a few times before on previous cars for services/mot's. Garage is Hunningley Lane garage, Barnsley. Lot cheaper then main dealer but obviously not as knowledgable! Lesson learnt!!
Do you or anybody have any suggestions for good main dealer/independent garages in Barnsley/south yorkshire area.

 

I'm in the other end of the country, so can't recommend a garage I'm afraid.....although I have heard people mention you should avoid DM Keith in York....probably a bit far from you anyway.  

 

Getting work done at the main dealer is no guarantee of expertise! The difference is, if something does go wrong there is normally a lot more comeback and a longer guarantee from the dealer......plus Skoda have a national pricing policy for a cambelt change of £299, which is usually not that much more expensive than an independent garage.

Edited 31 May, 2014 by booke23

[MarkyTDI]

I would certainly look into the timing and as Addenton suggested the type of coolant that has been used.

I haven't seen any mention of the thermostat so far, I'm guessing this has been checked out, would normally be my 1st port of call with an overheating issue.

 

I tow a 1.3 ton rib with my 4x4 and have been considering a remap as it struggles to maintain 60 on the dual carrageway without being in 5th and some big hills require 3500rpm in 3rd to maintain speed. Hows does yours cope with towing with a remap? I would imagine it is a different animal.

[Casper46]

Hi markytdi

Definitely recommend re-map. Prior to service didn't have a problem towing with good mpg 30-35. Once up to speed never really had to go lower than 4th gear and cruising on motorway was always 5th or sometimes 6th! Without caravan, car is wonderful, very torquey/responsive with generous mpg- upto 60mpg on a run/ mid 40's round town.

Decided best course of action for my problem is get timing check/re-set/ new radiator & coolant plus oil change- hopefully then overheating issues will be sorted, if not.......new car!?

Thanks to all for your advice and input, will keep you posted. Fingers crossed!!

Thanks

Paul

[rwbaldwin]

...Decided best course of action for my problem is get timing check/re-set/ new radiator & coolant plus oil change- hopefully then overheating issues will be sorted...

Before you start replacing stuff, get the block test done. You don't want to have work done only to find out it's the HG.

[Casper46]

Hi Rwbaldwin

Thanks for advice, will get it booked in for one of those too.

Thanks

Paul

[uscouter]

Paul, can recomend a very good independant that looks after our scout. He's based at wadsley bridge in Sheffield

Cheers Tim

[Casper46]

Hi uscouter

That would be brilliant, its not far from me. Can you give me details please

Thanks

Paul