Overheating....again!

[GingerMonster]

Hello knowledgable folk. I had a problem with my Alphie a couple of months ago. It overheated on the motorway and steam was coming out of the bonnet. I pulled over immediatly and had to call out the AA. The in-car heating didnt work at this time either. The radiator had burst in several places, leaking out the coolant. Turns out this was due to a faulty thermostat which meant the cooling fans didnt switch on, and the coolant wasnt released around the engine resulting in the water heating up, expanding and bursting its way out of the radiator. I used some liquid metal on the radiator, replaced the thermostat and et viola - good as new. Problem solved, or so I thought...

 

On Thursday, driving home from work, the temperature shot up again. That morning I thought I saw a little steam coming from the bonnet - but it had been raining so (now I realise incorrectly) presumed it was just rain water evaporating. I had not been paying attention to the temperature that morning. On the way home, the temperature shot up. I pulled over (conveniently next to a pub where I sat and had a Guiness waiting for the engine to cool down) and topped up the coolant. Then managed to get back home (fortunately only 10 mins away) with a normal temperature (it nudged its way up and then went back down again?!). The heating was also not working again. I popped over to a garage yesterday and the dude there said the dreaded words: it sounds like the head gasket had gone and it wasnt worth repairing. Queue the sicky feeling in my tummy. I am going to another garage on Monday who are Alphie specialists (where I bought it from) hoping they give a different diagnosis. Has anyone else had an experience like this and can share any advice/recommendations? Could it be the thermostat again, and if so, what would cause it to fail twice?

Edited October 14, 2023 by GingerMonster

[dezufo]

I have a very similar problem but on my subaru, the initial overheating was due to a blocked rad, fitted a new rad and stat, all went well for a few months but it overheated again, so checked and found the stat had seized, replaced it, bled the system but it continued to overheat, checked system and found it had exhaust gas in the coolant which indicates a leaking head gasket,the problem was made worse because the temp gauge was faulty so it read as being cooler than it actually was. The stat could have seized or some of that metal sealer could have blocked a waterway, it always pays to fit a new rad rather than try to seal it. When you topped it up did you bleed the air out. If the engine did not seize up then the head can be skimmed and new gasket fitted rather than a replacement engine

[Charlie Brown]

I thought old fashioned thermostats failed open, which means the fluid circulates without restriction, therefore running cooler and therefore not boiling over as a fail safe. Modern electronics may have a different result. 

[Guest]

Yes I thought the same as Charlie 

[Dave 400]

Hi had the same problem 2 years ago with my 2.4 mine is a 2004 reg unfortunately it was the head gasket 2 rear head bolts tend to strip threads in engine block only on early engines.I got a 2006 engine from nippon spares no further problems 

[GingerMonster]

Thanks everyone for your hints and tips. Turns out the radiator had a large crack in it. We have had a new rad put in (for anyone around East Devon: at Topsham Cars) but there is a risk we already did some damage to the head gasket. All seems fine at the moment but we shall see….

Edited October 21, 2023 by GingerMonster

[Rojie]

3 hours ago, GingerMonster said:

Thanks everyone for your hints and tips. Turns out the radiator had a large crack in it. We have had a new rad put in (for anyone around East Devon: at Topsham Cars) but there is a risk we already did some damage to the head gasket. All seems fine at the moment but we shall see….

 

Well Done Joseph at Topsham.

 

Hopefully you have not damaged the head gasket.

Look out for mayonaise in the oil filter cap and water from the exhaust pipe.

 

Keep a close eye on the water level, and ensure you maintain the correct concentration of anti freeze.

 

A good result.

[Adrian chamberlain]

On 10/21/2023 at 10:40 AM, GingerMonster said:

Thanks everyone for your hints and tips. Turns out the radiator had a large crack in it. We have had a new rad put in (for anyone around East Devon: at Topsham Cars) but there is a risk we already did some damage to the head gasket. All seems fine at the moment but we shall see….

Hi, Topsham cars… is that the garage next to the train station?

there’s also an independent Toyota garage in Honiton industrial estate.

Ade.

[GingerMonster]

37 minutes ago, Adrian chamberlain said:

Hi, Topsham cars… is that the garage next to the train station?

there’s also an independent Toyota garage in Honiton industrial estate.

Ade.

No it’s opposite Darts Farm. According to google they do have a place in Honiton too. 

[Adrian chamberlain]

1 hour ago, GingerMonster said:

No it’s opposite Darts Farm. According to google they do have a place in Honiton too. 

 

1 hour ago, GingerMonster said:

No it’s opposite Darts Farm. According to google they do have a place in Honiton too. 

Yes, their sales place is in Honiton. The Toyota mechanic’s is a separate business from Topsham motor’s however, it’s located next door to Topsham motors. He is a specialist Toyota mechanic and recommended.

when I get mine, definitely use him. JRS is the associate business to Topsham.

 

[Rojie]

3 hours ago, Adrian chamberlain said:

 

Yes, their sales place is in Honiton. The Toyota mechanic’s is a separate business from Topsham motor’s however, it’s located next door to Topsham motors. He is a specialist Toyota mechanic and recommended.

when I get mine, definitely use him. JRS is the associate business to Topsham.

 

 

Topsham Car Sales may have changed their sales location, but certainly used to have (and may still have) a Sales Office at Topsham.

As Angela says, opposite Dart's Farm. I would be certainly surprised if Joseph is no longer there.

[GingerMonster]

Joseph is definitely still at Topsham Cars. We bought our Alphie from him in June last year and he is the one who organized the replacement radiator last week. He definitely knows his stuff! 

Edited October 23, 2023 by GingerMonster