Thanks for everyone's help.

Water pump was broken.

Well done, glad you found the problem. 

I thought that lack of return flow in the little hose at top of expansion tank was pointing in that direction. 

39 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Well done, glad you found the problem. 

I thought that lack of return flow in the little hose at top of expansion tank was pointing in that direction. 

Yes that did get me thinking and pump was a first line one just under £30 ... fitted myself.

 

As for the output test,it doesn't give you an option in vcds,but the fan was kicking in this morning,so I know that works.

I noticed when I was driving after fitting the water pump,temp gauge was dropping lol...think got a airlock....heaters are hot now though.

I find it always takes a journey or two, as opposed to just letting it sit idling, before the coolant level settles down after any such change.

Make sure it's got enough antifreeze in, fair chance a freeze-up was what killed the old waterpump I should think. Probably why the previous owner got rid?

 

 

12 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

fair chance a freeze-up was what killed the old waterpump I should think.

Or just old age; I've known very few plastic impeller water pumps make it past 1.5 cambelt lives.

After doing over 70 miles,temp gauge sits at 90 until I start driving and slowly creeps down and sits at 50......I've left the cap off the expansion bottle for over an hour,heaters on etc, still the same, never did that until I changed the water pump.

Do you guys still think there is an airlock?

Maybe previous owner took thermostat out?

 

Good shout, I'll probably check it probably on Saturday....will let you know.thanks

If I have time will be checking it today.

Could it still be the thermostat as it gets to 90 like normally and then drops , when driving, wouldn't it take a very long time to reach temp?

This takes about 10 minutes or so.

Indicated 90 covers a pretty big span of reality, so yes, still possible I would think.

6 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Indicated 90 covers a pretty big span of reality, so yes, still possible I would think.

I'll check it out, cheers.