Noticed recently that when the engine first warms through the temperature dial which would normally go up to 90 and sit there had been exceeding 90 round to about 120 before then dropping back down to sit at 90 after a further minute or 2 of driving.

 

Meanwhile the digital temperature on the dash board would count up normally to about 98 and not go any higher.

 

I had wondered if it was just something to do with the DPF and it would stop doing it after a few weeks, however tonight the temperature dial went all the way round to the red line (130 degrees) and the dashboard flashed up a warning saying to stop immediately. I pulled over and checked the digital temperature which was saying approx 98, waited a minute or 2 and then continued cautiously and saw that once again the temperature dial gradually then dropped back down to normal.

 

I will be calling the dealer first thing tomorrow but was wondering if anyone else had experienced this.

 

Would be interesting to know if the digital and analogue readings both measure temperature at the same area of the engine.

 

 

There's been a lot of problems with cooling issues on the octavias. Mainly relating to waterpump issues.

Best get it too the dealer ASAP. When mine gave me the "engine overheating stop immediately" I stopped and refused to drive it any further despite Skodas recovery agent suggesting otherwise.

Overheating a diesel is not a good idea!

Sounds like a cooling system issue to me....my gauge on both my Mk3 octavia and Mk7 Golf TDIs never goes past 90.

It got taken away on the recovery wagon this morning to the garage so I guess I will hear from them later on.

 

Not sure whether its time to get rid of the car now and swap it in for a new one :/ Although was hoping to hold off till a facelift version was available.

If it's Skoda recovery (AA) mind to check they don't ruin your alloys.

When my car was picked up they managed to damage all 4 alloys.

The digital reading on the maxidot is Oil Temperature if I remember correctly & the analogue display is based on coolant water temperature so its normal they can be different.

 

Its not normal for the water to be 120° unless you are towing 2tonne truck through Arizona so you were right to call Skoda Assist.

If it's Skoda recovery (AA) mind to check they don't ruin your alloys.

When my car was picked up they managed to damage all 4 alloys.

How did they damage the alloys?

Could be a sticky thermostat. I would suspect a cooling fan if the issue came about in traffic. Possibly the coolant pump misbehaving. Are they still using plastic impellers on the Mk.3? 

 

The digital readout is oil, there will always be a difference between the two figures. Usually, the oil temp will lag behind what the coolant temperature is doing. There is an oil to coolant heat exchanger so it would take a while for the oil temp to start climbing. 

 

Also, I believe any minor fluctuations in coolant temperature above 90ºC are eliminated by the software in the dash. you'll notice the coolant stays at 90ºC, even when giving the car some stick. It only increases if there's a big rise in coolant temperature. 

How did they damage the alloys?

Long post....

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/383754-aa-recovery-shenanigans/

Suffice to say it actually wasn't the AA but one of their contractors but they kerbed the alloys and scuffed the lacquer.

I've still not got the wheels replaced as there's a massive waiting list for them.

Edited 26 January, 201610 yr by gullyg

My water pump was replaced under warranty due to this happening also. It did it 4 days in a row for a couple of minutes up to about 3 o'clock position then ran fine after so that was enough reason to get it sorted. Apparently it is quite a common problem on the older Octavias, mine is at 46,000kms.

They told me It binds stopping the water flow as it uses a centrifugal clutch, and then releases and then goes back to normal temperature straight away. I think the temperature sensor is in the same location so while it looks like imminent destruction, overall the engine isn't overheating. If I turned the engine off and started it again it went back to 90 straight away as it freed up the pump. It's been normal ever since replacement 2 months ago and it's 30 degrees here at the moment.

Edited 27 January, 201610 yr by snala

I rang the dealer to find out what was going on last night, the information they gave me is that they have ordered a water pump.

Shame that temperature gauges are not much use these days - roughly about right until the thermostat opens at which point it's no more than an idiot light (my first Citroen BX had an "overheating - too late to save the engine" light and nothing else).  They sit at 90 or max as soon as they've reached temp.  Placebo gauge..

 

Apparently stops people panicking when they see 100 degrees on the gauge as they think it's boiling.  Jaguar fixed that years ago when the V12 engine came out (that ran at its best about 100 degrees) - changed the gauge to read "C---N---H" instead of the actual temperature

 

As others have said, pumps seem to be an issue and is a likely suspect. 

I've got this same problem with mine. At 54000 mls. I've logged it as a problem with the dealer and hope to get it fixed when I come back off holiday. It's happened twice in 5 days but seems to right itself but I'd like it done before the warranty is up. I'll post up the results when I know what the fix was.

My 1.6 TDI overheated last weekend. The main dealer has had it this week and found that the fan bearings had failed, 14,000 miles only!

The aircon was also blowing warm at the point when the car got hot, so it is worth checking the fan cuts in when the aircon is running. I didn't know that the fan always runs when the aircon is in operation.

I have had a similar problem to this, but got the overheating message on the dash. I pull over, temp drops. Restart and drive away and all is hunky dory.

 

Phoned my dealer, and was asked if it happened after going up hill. Thought about it and yep. happened not long after going up a slope while the engine was cold.

 

Evidently a known problem with the water pump, so off to get it changed on Wednesday. Will let you know if it sorts the problem on my 14 plate.

 

Previous owner must have lived in a flat place, not to have had this problem.