Hi all,

 

have bought my old mans 5yr old Mk3 off him. Cracking car (my 2nd Octy) though it’s developed low coolant warning issue & no hot air from heaters. Just had cam belt and water pump done (based on time) & garage confirmed water pump issue had caused coolant issues etc. I had seen & confirmed leak under car before cam belt change. 

 

two days after cam belt done & same issue....... I trust garage - used for years on at least 5/6 cars and

never had issue. as such bad luck!

 

any ideas what & why? Had driven c.15miles on A road/Mway, on new water pump. No leaking seen.

 

Thanks in advance :-)
 

 

I would take it back to the garage to check it over. It might be something they have fitted incorrectly.

Hi, possibly an air lock when the cooling system was refilled.

21 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

I would take it back to the garage to check it over. It might be something they have fitted incorrectly.

Yes, I’m taking it back for sure & wont be an issue doing that. I do trust the garage but should not be a clear related issue so soon! Thanks 

6 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hi, possibly an air lock when the cooling system was refilled.

Thanks - is this easy to sort? I’ll be taking car back as per above in any case. Thanks for reply,  cheers 

Put a search for air lock coolant system, I 'm sure I've seen some reference to this problem on the forum before - not experienced it myself.

11 hours ago, RCL said:

Thanks - is this easy to sort? I’ll be taking car back as per above in any case. Thanks for reply,  cheers 

I did a search myself - but couldn't find anything, I'm sure it was relatively simple - but a little time-consuming. Probably something like slowly adding coolant with the engine running, up to temperature and the heater full on. There is possibly an air-bleed valve somewhere. Get the original garage to sort it.

Very possibly a blocked heater matrix due to the silica bag in the coolant tank bursting, unfortunately. Search for 'silica bag' on here, there are tonnes of posts about it.

Yerr - check the coolant bottle.  If it a horrible brown sludgy colour, then the silicon bag has burst (I've just removed mine from my 2019 Scout).  Your coolant system will need to be flushed...

If it is a nice healthy red colour (G13), then you have an air lock.  Try topping up the coolant bottle and see if that fixes the problem.

Thanks to those that have replied, much appreciated & has helped a lot.

 

My mechanic has diagnosed blocked heater matrix, tried all other options and still no heat! He has warned me it’s full days labour as it’s the dashboard out etc - as such won’t be cheap......

 

Seems a serious issue across the VAG group. What would others recommend once it’s fixed: keeping a silica bag in long term or taking it out & being religious about coolant changes?

 

I have bought it off my old man at 5.5 yrs old so it has no warranty - as such not worried about doing anything different to what Skoda say.

 

Are there any new expansion tanks with better ways of holding silica? The bag seems a real cop out & bodge.

 

This is my 2nd Octy on the trot, have loved every minute of owning one but this issue has really put a downer on it!!

 

thanks in advance :-)

 

cheers 

 

 

19 minutes ago, RCL said:

keeping a silica bag in long term or taking it out

No ifs, buts or maybes - take it out

I've seen a video on YouTube of the heater matrix being changed without taking the dash out. It's tight but is possible from the footwells by removing the air duct and blower motor. 

Edited 10 October, 20205 yr by paulski

I took my silica bag out a few months ago. A bit fiddly but if careful it’s easy to do. Topped up with G13. The fluid was a healthy red/pink before so I have hopefully escaped the dreaded silica leak. Will have the coolant changed every 2 years now to make up for the loss of silica.

Thanks for the advice to date. Thought I’d send update to tie this thread up. It was heater matrix that had gone. Gummed up with silica....... mechanic put in new water bottle (no silica bag!) as well flushing the system. Car now nice & warm......Expensive lesson to learn....... Cheers