General overheating, headgasket??

[tommyc2004]

Hi there, i'm a newbie and am wanting some serious help. I've got a 1998 marea weekend 1.6 and 3 days ago felt that the clutch pedal was " a bit funny" felt different. then yesterday driving home after a short trip noticed that the temp gauge was on red. engine was making loads of noise so pulled over and waited for it to cool down then drove home. when cold checked under bonnet and rad filler cap was missing along with most of coolant. filled it up with 50/50 and turned engine over this morn. still overheating, water gets to boiling REALLY quickly and the fan doesn't come on. Also their is no heat coming out of the blower even when temp gauge on red. It's at garage at moment who have said off hand that it sounds like the head gasket waiting for phone call from them to confirm. does anyone have any ideas as to what else it could be such as thermostat or water pump etc. felt pipes and both seem warm. any help would be really appreciated.

 

[Ffoxy]

Hi there, i'm a newbie and am wanting some serious help. I've got a 1998 marea weekend 1.6 and 3 days ago felt that the clutch pedal was " a bit funny" felt different. then yesterday driving home after a short trip noticed that the temp gauge was on red. engine was making loads of noise so pulled over and waited for it to cool down then drove home. when cold checked under bonnet and rad filler cap was missing along with most of coolant. filled it up with 50/50 and turned engine over this morn. still overheating, water gets to boiling REALLY quickly and the fan doesn't come on. Also their is no heat coming out of the blower even when temp gauge on red. It's at garage at moment who have said off hand that it sounds like the head gasket waiting for phone call from them to confirm. does anyone have any ideas as to what else it could be such as thermostat or water pump etc. felt pipes and both seem warm. any help would be really appreciated.

Check the thermostat by substitution for a new one then drain and re-fill the cooling system with the correct mixture of water / coolant. Check for air locks, bleed the system thoroughly and try it again, if it still boils up and you are CERTAIN there is no air lock get a cooling system pressure check done at a garage, initial feeling is one of doom for your car, hope I am wrong...

 

[jug]

it does sound like head gasket failure, mostly because it boils so quickly suggesting hot cylinder gas is entering the cooling system.

the funny clutch could be a leaking slave cylinder (on top of gearbox). its a common problem. look for a wet patch on top of gearbox, and the brake fluid level dropping (this fluid is shared with clutch)