My wifes A3 PD130 ASZ lump is running hot. I suspect the water pump so I have bought an electric pump from a Merc. Question is, where to fit it?

 

Does anyone have a schematic of the cooling system?

 

Thanks

Have you done the normal things like check the condition of the radiator, thermostat, coolant concentration etc? It could even be a dodgy temp sender giving a false reading, or (highly unlikely though) the gauge on the dash. Buying an electric pump sounds like trying to paper over the cracks to me, find the problem and cure that is a better option.

well if you must     and if it's any help I fitted an electric heater (for the opposite reason) to the water flow @ the oil cooler  (to the passenger side)

You need to find out why it's running hot.

I have changed the temp sender and thermostat. The coolant is clear so I assume the radiator is fine, i.e. not gunked up. I just assume the water pump because it happened on an old Octavia from many moons ago with the ALH lump.

 

I am confident it isnt the coolant mix, since I have serviced it recently since it played up.

 

I guess it could be the radiator condition, is there a way to test this?

If it was me, then I would invest in a new cambelt and water pump kit, as the pump is timing belt driven. If the bearings fail, or the pump is on it's way out, then you could end up with a snapped belt, and a wrecked engine.

The car isnt long for this world anyway. I suspect it will be Coke cans soon after Christmas. I just want to keep it limping along.

The car isnt long for this world anyway. I suspect it will be Coke cans soon after Christmas. I just want to keep it limping along.

 

Fair enough then, lol. No easy way to test the rad unless you take it out and get a radiator specialist to pressure test it. A visual inspection will give you a good idea, as if the fins are missing, then it's pretty much scrap. Is the water circulating in the header tank when the engine is running? You should be able to see some disturbance, more so if you rev it up a bit.

Fair enough then, lol. No easy way to test the rad unless you take it out and get a radiator specialist to pressure test it. A visual inspection will give you a good idea, as if the fins are missing, then it's pretty much scrap. Is the water circulating in the header tank when the engine is running? You should be able to see some disturbance, more so if you rev it up a bit.

Yes the tank does have flow back into it. not so much at tickover but when you rev it it does. No water in the oil, or oil in the water, so not suspecting head gasket, though there is very minor fluid loss, but I am putting that down to it being hot and evaporating off. I think the timing is 3.0, I cant remember if its + or - though, but I can get that to 0 soon enough.

 

I was thinking poke the hose in the bottom and reverse flush the radiator. Do the timing and take it from there.

Fair enough then, lol. No easy way to test the rad unless you take it out and get a radiator specialist to pressure test it. A visual inspection will give you a good idea, as if the fins are missing, then it's pretty much scrap. Is the water circulating in the header tank when the engine is running? You should be able to see some disturbance, more so if you rev it up a bit.

So this morning i altered the timing so it was 0.0 and popped the top and bottom hoses off the rad and poked a hose in from the top and bottom. It seemes there is no restriction in the rad. I also took it for a spin monitoring the temps. The dash read 100 to 110 while vcds didnt get to 70. Top hose hot bottom cool. Both pressurised but not balooning.

Coolant is flowing into the header tank when running. And speeds up then revving.

Im thinking thermostat although i changed it a coupke of weeks ago. Maybe something in the housing is fouling it?

Any other ideas?