Newbie Here With Huge Problems

[tyrerkent]

Hi, 2003 2.5 diesel Grand Voyager owner from Kent.

 

Had it a year, love it. Best car I've ever had, comfy, ideal for my family.

Had a coolant leak after damaged a pipe leaving a very muddy bumpy field around xmas. Car overheated and found a nice hole in a pipe which was replaced.

This last month however, my car decides to overheat when on inclines.... Been to a few mechanics/garages, none of which want to look at it, saying its too much hassle for them to fix, but all stating the same thing, its either the thermostat, water pump, radiator or head gasket.

 

I'm now in a bind, as i know nothing about cars, and believe I could spend a large amount getting the water pump replaced, only to find that's not the issue. Same for all the other parts.

 

Any ideas as to what I should get checked first? I'm thinking thermostat....

 

Any help would be most appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

 

[ben]

Hi Neil,

 

Hopefully it will be something simple and one of our members will be along to help you

 

I've put this post in the GV section, so someone should be along to help you shortly!

[tyrerkent]

Thank you kindly. I'm also hoping its something simple, even though one of the garages that had a quick look said sell it! lol

 

Fingers crossed.

[a1ant]

Hi Neil!

 

A few questions to ask first....

 

Is your coolant level dropping? Ie are you having to top it up?

 

Does the car get hot when sitting in traffic? Or only when going up inclines?

 

Does the temperature gauge generally sit steady once warned up, or does it fluctuate up and down?

 

When starting the car from cold, do you hear any sloshing/bubbling noises?

 

Alan

[QinteQ]

Car overheated and found a nice hole in a pipe which was replaced.

- what does overheated mean ? how hot / for how long

- no excuse for more than 60 seconds, that can kill the oil and then kill the engine

- so how hot and how long ?

This last month however

- so between the December repair and now you have had no problems in that 6 months ?

car decides to overheat when on inclines

- so only in the recent megga hot weeks

- and only on an incline

- so how hot and how long ?

 i know nothing about cars, and believe I could spend a large amount getting the water pump replaced, thermostat, radiator or head gasket.

- stat is unlikely, stat is engineered so that if it ever breaks it breaks in an open [never a closed] position

- stat is expensive but a cheepo 'in line' stat can be put in by you for £16 and two jubilee clips

- head gasket prediction can be cheap tested by a garage or you

- radiator prediction test can be cheap tested by a garage

- a 'key dance' will give you your P codes, more than P codes and a decent scanner will be needed

- water pump - you should be able to hear a metal rattle noise, you can also see lousey flow volume back into the header tank

 

Best of luck .....................