FSI suddenly overheats!

Phil FSI

Member
Good evening all
Sorry if I’ve posted this in the wrong area.
Does anyone know why my FSI would suddenly overheat?
I drove it 170 miles the other day with no problems and have done other short drives ok
But tonight I got the emergency red thermometer and the gauge was heading for 120!
I pulled over thinking pipe of death had gone but I’ve got all my water!
I then thought the radiator fan must have blown it’s fuse but on checking the fuses there isint one for number 4?!?!
You can’t even put one in! There is no little connectors where the fuse would contact?
So I’m going to try and get home or to the pub carpark.
Any ideas...
Will take to garage on Tuesday anyway
Phil FSI
 
My TDI has the fuse diagram mirrored - b*itch to read so it might be same for you but wouldn't imagine fan being gone would cause it to overheat that fast.

First guess would be to check water pump I'm guessing?
 
I then thought the radiator fan must have blown it’s fuse but on checking the fuses there isint one for number 4?!?!
You can’t even put one in! There is no little connectors where the fuse would contact?

Are you familiar with the A2 fusebox? The RHD fusebox under the dash is rotated through 180 degrees, so the fuses are numbered from 1-5 up the far right hand column, and so on across the box.
 
Hi guys

Thanks for speedy reply!
I’m home now, drove with heater on full and windows down, thinking I still wouldn’t make it but I did.
On the short journey home the needle came back up to 90° and stayed there, didn’t go passed.
As for the fuse box I did see it was all back to front and I could see each little fuse bay is numbered so I knew I was in the right place but I’m still baffled by how you can’t put a fuse in number 4
Will take it for a check up and report back.
Thanks again chaps
Good to know you are there
Phil FSI
 
Hi guys

Thanks for speedy reply!
I’m home now, drove with heater on full and windows down, thinking I still wouldn’t make it but I did.
On the short journey home the needle came back up to 90° and stayed there, didn’t go passed.
As for the fuse box I did see it was all back to front and I could see each little fuse bay is numbered so I knew I was in the right place but I’m still baffled by how you can’t put a fuse in number 4
Will take it for a check up and report back.
Thanks again chaps
Good to know you are there
Phil FSI
I also believe the water pump was done with the cam belt a couple of years ago. Hopefully it wasn’t a cheap Chinese one.
 
As far as I know the diagram on the fuse box lid is correct for RHD cars, just the manual show LHD fuse boxes which are rotated 180. Are you seeinf flow into the expansion tank. No flow either a blockage, pump gone or stat stuck closed. How old and what colour is the coolant? Could also be the temp sensor not switching on the fan when required. Do you have climate?
 
Hi Phil,

welcome to the club, it's the best of the lot! :)

Re your overheating issue: Amazing that your gauge moved at all, my car totally overheated with no water in it and the gauge stayed at 90dg, I changed the temperature sensor (That's the awkward one/Green coloured) Make sure you get the right one for the FSI.
Change fan sensors and sensor on the radiator at the same time, look for rusty drips below the water pump, change the lot if you are unsure of when it was last changed.

Check that the expansion tank gives you a warning when empty, this could be faulty (I had that too). Flush the radiator and replace anti-freeze with red type.

I've had 3 new electronic thermostats in my car so I'd check that nasty expensive part too, if this is faulty it will burst the Pipe of death and water pump, I've had that twice. Also had the bearing collapse on the water pump twice, once with a crap Euro car parts one and one crap Gates one. Sorry don't know what water pump to recommend here, I'm sure someone on here can do that.

Check the water "Y" pipe above the head, make sure it's not brittle, it's worth changing anyway as it's only £7 quid, I had this break and spray the engine with water and steam so your fore warned.

last of all, check if head gasket has a leak.

If you search these forums you will see loads of water issue problems especially with the 1.6 Fsi.

Ive posted on water problems over the last few years.

Good luck with your car.

Cheers

Doug
 
Hi guys
Haven’t been out the the A2 today as we took the Range Rover for an auto gearbox service at 70k miles. Apparently It should of been done at 40k but no one tells you that so the oil according to the fitter was well knackered!

Once home I wanted to get my hands on the A2 asap. Today the service hatch wouldn’t open ? so after finding a thread here how to fix that (2 person job, partner went to work) I decided to try to polish the headlights instead.

Once partner was home I (we) opened the service hatch, got the bonnet off, oiled the catch, adjusted the clip and started the engine.

Now finally the bit that relates to this thread..
Yes there is some water flow in expansion bottle. All be it a trickle.
The coolant is red but looks weak to me.
The temperature got up to 90° and stayed there for ages! I guess the thermostat is working. I continued to clean the headlights determined to hear the fan start.
I tried the AC, that got the fan going so turned AC off. (Audifan, it’s got climate).
It stayed at 90° for ages but I could feel some real heat coming from the engine bay now and wondered if the gauge was lying.
Then I noticed the gauge started rising passed 90° but still no fan!
I turned the engine off then back on again and this time the fan came on?!?!
I decided not to see if it cooled as it was quite high.
@Birdfish, the Y pipe by bottle looks good.
Any ideas?
Sorry for lengthy explanation

Phil FSI
Still confused by fuse board but the fan does work in a way.
 
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