I have a 63 plate Octavia VRS and recently an engine overheat warning light has been appearing. Oil and coolant levels are fine. Anyone got any ideas?

Are you asking us why it could be overheating, or asking us why its telling you its overheating when its not?

Could this be the youngest car to suffer from the infamous "dirty prongs" failure"?

 

@Bigspf Does this happen sometimes when the engine is known to be cold, and more often when it's cold out as well?

10 hours ago, SuperbTWM said:

Are you asking us why it could be overheating, or asking us why its telling you its overheating when its not?

 

Suppose both. I automatically assumed it was either oil or coolant but as these are fine, why would it overheat?

1 hour ago, KenONeill said:

Could this be the youngest car to suffer from the infamous "dirty prongs" failure"?

 

@Bigspf Does this happen sometimes when the engine is known to be cold, and more often when it's cold out as well?

 

To be fair it is usually within about 10 mins into the journey but has only just started now with the milder weather 

18 minutes ago, Bigspf said:

 

To be fair it is usually within about 10 mins into the journey but has only just started now with the milder weather 

 

I take it the temperature gauge isn't showing any signs of overheating?

 

As @KenONeill has pointed out, it does sound like it could be warning you of low coolant level. There is a level probe in the expansion tank that has 2 prongs on it which can sometimes give trouble. sticking in a srewdriver and scraping them sometimes sorts it out, otherwise its a new expansion tank. Its worth checking the connection as well just in case its that.

6 minutes ago, SuperbTWM said:

 

I take it the temperature gauge isn't showing any signs of overheating?

 

As @KenONeill has pointed out, it does sound like it could be warning you of low coolant level. There is a level probe in the expansion tank that has 2 prongs on it which can sometimes give trouble. sticking in a srewdriver and scraping them sometimes sorts it out, otherwise its a new expansion tank. Its worth checking the connection as well just in case its that.

 

No, temp gauge is fine. Just gives a loud 'beep' and a large red temp symbol appears on my panel. Says engine overheat, stop and contact dealer.

 

ill try the screwdriver suggestion 

What @SuperbTWM said is exactly what I was thinking. In which case the car isn't overheating or low on coolant, but giving you a false positive message off the level probe. This usually happens when the engine is cold and the air temperature is under 5C.

 

What he didn't say is that a new expansion tank is only about £20 plus fitting if you don't feel competent to do it yourself.

1 hour ago, KenONeill said:

What @SuperbTWM said is exactly what I was thinking. In which case the car isn't overheating or low on coolant, but giving you a false positive message off the level probe. This usually happens when the engine is cold and the air temperature is under 5C.

 

What he didn't say is that a new expansion tank is only about £20 plus fitting if you don't feel competent to do it yourself.

 

Brilliant and thanks a lot for your assistance. Any ideas where I would get a tank from?

probably ok with fitting it myself 

20 hours ago, Bigspf said:

 

Brilliant and thanks a lot for your assistance. Any ideas where I would get a tank from?

probably ok with fitting it myself 

Henry's in Glasgow, between the Cally and the M8.

30 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Henry's in Glasgow, between the Cally and the M8.

 

Thanks Ken, I know it

Diesel or petrol?  Could be a sticky sleeve (designed to allow quicker wrmer up) on the water pump if a diesel.

57 minutes ago, mbames said:

Diesel or petrol?  Could be a sticky sleeve (designed to allow quicker wrmer up) on the water pump if a diesel.

As I'm reading @Bigspf the car isn't actually overheating, plus a new water pump means a new cambelt so it's going to be £several hundred although I know a couple of independent specialists near him.

Mine did that - it reported an overheat as the sleeve jammed, but a few seconds later it moved, following the normal water flow to resume and the temp dropped back down.  The standard condition for triggering this seemed to be a short (slow) drive for say 5-10 minutes (around town) and then a steep hill climb.  In my case from my house and over to Portland, and then climb up Fortuneswell Hill onto the top of the rock.

 

I managed to get mine done under warranty (after a week of wrangling), did also pay for the cambelt kit, so the dealer fitted it FOC while there were in there.

Think this thread covers it - 

 

Edited 4 April, 20179 yr by mbames

I would expect a dirty coolant level sensor will give a "Coolant Level Low" error on the Maxidot rather than "Engine Overheating"..

It seems more likely you have the water pump sleeve issue which is sticking during the warmup & then releasing itself.

 

If you can find someone with an OBD scanner to read the fault codes, this should give you a better idea of where the problem is coming from.