Any Mechanics on the Forum? Problem with wifes car.

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Yorkie

Well-Known Member
Have we any members who can give advice on a coolant temp problem I am having on wife's Astra 1.6 please?
It will not get warm and she wants the heaters working in time for winter :roll::-D.
It has had a new genuine VX Thermostat (£70) fitted and the coolant changed. No fault codes or warning lights.

Many thanks.

Yorkie.
 
Hi RD.
It is a strange problem.
Everything is working fine. Car runs like a dream.
The astra has no temp gauge so you can only access the coolant temp by bringing it up on the radio display.
On a motorway bash the coolant does not get above 60 degrees. When stood the temp goes up and the fan kicks in as it should and the heaters are nice and hot. As soon as you get airflow over the Rad when you are moving the temp drops right back. All this pointed to a stuck open thermostat which has been replaced.
Coolant has been replaced with new too and all bled correctly.

Yorkie.
 
Yorkie, Need a bit more info. When you say not getting warm I assume you mean the fan is not blowing hot but the car is running fine and not over heating!
Is this correct?

Paul
 
Ok I have just read the previous post. When standing and the electric fan kicks in does it also stop once the temp drops?

Paul
 
Plastic water pump impellor bonded onto steel shaft.... at idle it will circulate enough water to warm up the heater matrix but at high revs the impellor slips on the shaft. It's a common vauxhall problem, well one of them ;)
 
From experience on older astray there is a small connector on the inlet manifold which would measure the temp. Might be worth checking this or plugging it in to a diagnostic kit to check.

good luck.
 
P@ul said:
Ok I have just read the previous post. When standing and the electric fan kicks in does it also stop once the temp drops?

Paul
Click to expand...

Hi paul.
The fan kicks in and switches off as normal when the temp drops.
Thanks.
Yorkie.
 
Si said:
Plastic water pump impellor bonded onto steel shaft.... at idle it will circulate enough water to warm up the heater matrix but at high revs the impellor slips on the shaft. It's a common vauxhall problem, well one of them ;)
Click to expand...

Hi Si
If the water pump was slipping then surely it would boil up when on motor way? Picked wife up from warrington and it was fine on m way apart from it would not get above 60 degrees.
Thanks
Yorkie.
 
dan71 said:
I had this and turned out to be head gasket as no eater in the heater matrix. Just air
Click to expand...

Hi Dan.
Heater gets nice and warm when car is stood and temp rises as shown by the temp readout. All cools down when you start moving.
Head gasket is fine. No oil in water or water in oil and no coolant loss. Car runs perfect apart from not getting to correct temp.
Thanks
Yorkie.
 
Tam the Gun said:
From experience on older astray there is a small connector on the inlet manifold which would measure the temp. Might be worth checking this or plugging it in to a diagnostic kit to check.

good luck.
Click to expand...

Hi Tam.
No fault codes showing on diagnostic test.
Thanks.
Yorkie.
 
So, if i have it right your car all works fine, water reaches temp ok, fan cuts in & temp drops if at idle, but no warm air directed into car? maybe the directional vent is not working?
is it mechanical or electrical?...
 
Does sound like a thermostat stuck open. See if the top radiator hose is warm after running for a while with the temp readout under 60. The thermostat should be closed then, and the top radiator hose not very warm.

Is it a diesel? They're generally more efficient and more likely to run so cool that the heater output is poor.

Cheers,
Jeff.
 
Is it the correct temp reading? The car may all be fine just not reading correctly. Maybe sensor or display fault
 
Sister in law has a 2006 1.6 which was having similar problems but then boiled up on the motorway resulting in a new head gasket. It blew another head gasket and so went back in and this time had the head skimmed. Within no time at all the gasket blew again completely screwing the engine and a new engine being sourced.

I think Vauxhall traced the fault back to one of the water pipes which had a leak which got worse under pressure.

Her latest problem with this car is with the horn comes on when the head lights are on so she can't use it after dark until the car goes back in on the 30th
 
rick6point5 said:
So, if i have it right your car all works fine, water reaches temp ok, fan cuts in & temp drops if at idle, but no warm air directed into car? maybe the directional vent is not working?
is it mechanical or electrical?...
Click to expand...
Hi Rick.
Car drives fine. When sat ticking over temp rises and heaters get warm in relation to temp reading. Fan kicks in and out as you would expect and engine warms and cools as normal. As soon as you start to move and put airflow through radiator the temp readout drops to 60 and the heaters blow luke warm to match that reading.
Heaters are blowing strong and the heat given off matches the temp read out. Nice and hot when car is ticking over and stood when temp gauge goes up to 95+ but cools down moving and temp readout drops to 60.
I went on a motorway trip tonight and the temp never got above 63 with luke warm heaters.
All very confusing :???:,

Yorkie
 
JeffYoung said:
Does sound like a thermostat stuck open. See if the top radiator hose is warm after running for a while with the temp readout under 60. The thermostat should be closed then, and the top radiator hose not very warm.

Is it a diesel? They're generally more efficient and more likely to run so cool that the heater output is poor.

Cheers,
Jeff.
Click to expand...
Hi jeff.
Exactly what I thought hence a new thermostat got fitted. Its a 1.6 petrol. I will try your idea about the top hose, that is a good idea thanks.

Yorkie.
 
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