Overheating!

[Davemassey16]

Hi there guys and gals! Just joined the forum as we've just bought our new (2002) Alhambra

Unfortunately it's not going swimmingly, on the drive home the temp gauge was reading 90 degrees when the red temp earring light came on. So I pulled over and had a look to see if the coolant was low. It was fine. Let it cool down and drive the 3 miles home.

Started her up and headed to town to pick up my wife and the temp gauge was fluctation massively between 90 and 130 with the light coming on and then going off 5 seconds or so later.

It's recently had the thermostat changed due to overheating issues and the car was checked to make sure the head hadn't gone.

The person who I bought the car off is completely ignoring my messages and now we're stuck with this! It's our only car and we have 4 kids and one on the way and we live in the middle of nowhere! Does anybody have an idea of where I should start first?

Thanks in advance

Dave

 

[xs2man]

Get into a garage to check for head gasket. Mine was like that when I bought it. Wondered why he was so happy to only knock £500 off the price, when he accepted straight away.

Anyway, the timing belt was due shortly after on mine, so it wasn't the end of the world. But it was the head gasket, as that cured the problem entirely.

 

[Davemassey16]

I hope isn't he head! We've decided to get it to a garage Monday and have them take a look, I can fix most things but I really can't be bothered to start guessing at things that are wrong. I've changed the thermostat just incase the previous owner wasn't telling the truth about that, who knows! But the lower pipe coming from the stat is constantly cool so this leads me to believe the water pump has gone. Also the cooling fans never kick in! Poxy cars!