A newbie here,
I'm driving an 01 sei with the 898cc engine and the fan belt snapped over the weekend (which happens every 6 months or so to me). When the water temp warning light came on I pulled over immediately, but steam/white smoke started to billow out from the bonnet and the coolant was boiling when I pulled the bonnet. After towing the car home, replacing the fan belt and topping up the coolant levels (which was only half empty), the water temp light comes on after ten minutes driving. Heaters work fine and keep blowing hot air, so I think it might be the head gasket gone, but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any advice on what else could be the problem or how to make sure it is the gasket that's gone before I set about replacing it? Thanks.

I'm not too clued up on the plumbing of the 899, but I wonder if it's the waterpump. It's driven by the aux/fan belt isn't it. If it's knackered (hence it eating belts) and has now failed.. that'd cause it to overheat quite quickly.

Failing that, thermostat is stuck.

Fire the engine up, hold onto the the top hose to the rad. Check that there is water circulating. It should heat suddenly as the stat opens.

:yeahthat:

But I'd do a compression test as well to make sure the HG is intact, or you'll end up going round in circles (and swearing).

Thanks, checked the water at the bulkhead and water was being circulated when the engine was on so I don't think it's the water pump but I'll double check it at the radiator tomorrow. But the car isn't pissing out water either which I thought normally happened when the HG goes, but I'll no what way to go after a compression test tomorrow. Looks like I'll be getting the bus for a couple days :bang:

There should be a bleed point for the radiator and may be one for the heater

You need to open the radiator one first until water splashes out close immediately and then do the same to the heater one...

If the auto misfires in the mornings for a few seconds the head gasket may be on way out and you need a compression test sooner rather then later...

Compression test done, 180, 185 160 and 165 respectively, spark plugs need a change badly too now that I've checked. Car doesn't run quite right for a few seconds after starting but then runs fine, water pump seems to be putting the fan belt under a lot of pressure and not much draw. Going to replace the water pump and spark plugs then see how it runs, if I still have problems might look at the head gasket again, but at least that will hopefully be the end of chewed fan belts!

the water pumps on these can loose there efficiency leading to not enough water being pumped at low engine speeds. As you don't have a temp gauge you don't see the warning signs.

Cheers

D

you need to do the compression test wet and dry but more than 10% variation and the misfire on start up is not good you need the wet and dry before you strip

when the belt snaps you need to check the bearings are free before replacing.

What rallycinq says about the water pump loosing efficiency at low speeds makes sense to me now, and the water pump wasn't seized or anything when replacing the belt. Think that when I replace the spark plugs as well that it should get the engine back running smoothly again, might stick in a temp gauge too now that I'll be working on it to keep on eye on things from now on