hi its a 1 litre clx. drives fine but the temperature shoots up after a few miles, used to stay in the middle at 90 but now seems to be a "notch" or two over.

The heating fan comes on.

Any suggestions? There is coolant in the system

Its OK when it gets into red area panic I have a CLX that I have just fitted a low milage engine into her yesterday. So if its not bust leave it alone, as long as the rad fan kicks in the things should be fine only worry when your coolant goes missing and thats another story that I have just had to sort out

Umm there is no red markings on my dash...

Ok if it pin just goes over 90 its normal. ie 1-2 notches over I would not worry the thing to loook out for rapid rise of the needle above the 90 ish mark and the loss of water out of your engines gooling system. Our CLX could drink a milk bottle full of water on less than five miles. Head gasket had blown on numer one cylinder.

ok i have marked in blue the highest i have seen it.

http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/DSCF5203.JPG


but this is a sudden change, normally it stays at 90 all the time, maybe VERY slightly over.

Also to me the engine seems to be running lumpy, seems to have a lot more vibration going through it.


But it still drives ok, pulls the same,

Thats abit too high to be normal I think, funny there are no red markings though

Not really sure what to suggest, what temp does the fan kick in at?

a little bit before that...

I will go for a spin later and take some water with me.

is it safe to open the header tank when its hot in case i need to add more? I know its not safe to open the actual radiator cap

the fan comes on a little before the blue mark i suppose. it seems to vary though.

Also ive had the temperature quite high without the fan coming on but it came on after i parked up and started to walk away from the car

You need to flush the system, recharge it with the proper ratio of water to antifreeze and if your feeling extra brave. Add some of this.



It awesome stuff. If your running in the red for whatever reason, it brings it back down.

Faulty thermostatic switch? Fan should come on just over 90

ok, just got back in.

Car wont go faster than an indicated 70 , fan doesnt come on at all. When i turn the internal fan to hot it doesnt blow hot air into the cabin either the radiator got warm to the touch but not hot.


Here is some gunk on the top of the oil cap
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/DSCF5260.JPG

Here is as hot as it got:
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/DSCF5243.JPG

Also this airbox thing, the hose had come off
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/DSCF5244.JPG
and inside the box itself was a pool of oil
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/DSCF5247.JPG
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/DSCF5259.JPG

more pics here
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/

Soooooooooo any ideas? I guess the thermostat is broken as the fan didnt come on at all, but should the radator of been roasting hot? could there be a blockage? Or the water pump is goosed?

i have uploaded a video of how bad it sounds

Can't see the video but definite head gasket by the look of it. The gunk on the oil filler is where the water has got into the oil and is the classic sign of head gasket failure. You need to get it sorted and not keep running the car, as you'll damage the engine if it's run too hot.

The airbox pipe is a red herring, they seem to run fine without them, apart from maybe in very cold weather.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Gavin.

Head gasket has failed now we have the full story without doubt, its just what we had with our CLX dont run car until sorted or you will nacker the complete engine.

Just done the head gasket on my wifes Punto that had all the same symptoms as you are having.
Not an expensive job cost me £80 for head set and bolts from Partco St Annes and a head skim at Blackpool Road and Rally.

Yep head gasket failiure. What are your plans now then, what year is the Panda?

**** sake... it was allegedly redone fairly recently before i bought the car, it came with a receipt saying 20/4/10 saying timing belt and tensioners replaced. Is it normal for it to fail in just over a year and 4000~ miles?


Its an 94 on an m so a late one.. I dont know what to do. I like the car and it doesnt sound to costly to fix.

Do you think its just the head gasket gone and the thermostat? Or do you think the thermostat went and the head damaged the headgasket?

If it has gone before and head wasn't skimmed then it will go again, if it was done properly then the thermostat could be stuck shut, seems likely as you say the radiator and heater isn't getting hot.

Shouldn't cost much to have it done, maybe £300??

Its pretty annoying actually. There are 3 big huge give aways as to wether or not the head gasket has gone, but if they are not obvious it can be harder to determine the problem.

1) Bubbles in the radiator expansion tank

2) Oily/Creamy substance in the radiator or on the dipstick. (creamy substance under the filler cap isn't always a giveaway as moisture collects there on most vehicles and will emulsify with oil over time)

3) Uneven running, getting too hot very quickly, dissapearing water levels.

If the thermostat has gone, then it should run perfectly fine with no issue, but it will always try and get into the 'red' on the temperature gauge. The issue is purely temperature related.

However. If the car has gotten very hot i.e - past the red, off the gauge. Then the head can warp by the tiniest amount, causing a head gasket failure.

If you need a hand or want some options or it looking at, send me a PM.

ok....

Should this pipe be full of water all the time?
http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/new/DSCF5264.JPG

It wasnt this morning and the header tank was empty so i topped up. now this is full of water that gets hot when running.

http://www.mike65.ukfsn.org/main/uploads/files/feckingcar/new/DSCF5265.JPG

I undid this plastic stopper and lots of air came out and then the water started coming out.

The car seems to be running ok and not over heating now apart from it seems very jumpy/sluggish in 1st and 2nd gear. but above say 30mph it seems fine. But when i park up i can hear air/water bubbling or trickling out near the header tank but I cant see any leaking anywhere.

Blasted it up and down amounderness and the temperature stayed at 90 all the time.


So hmmm I dont know I am pretty clueless when it comes to cars.