Seat leon "overheated"

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:54 am

Last sunday driving to the airport my seat leon started to overheat "fumes from front and back". As was driving to the airport couldnt really stop cos didnt want to miss the flight.

Next day went to garage and did the water pump.

After that tried to start the car and was still overheating so the thermostat was broke, not letting the water go past, did the thermostat.

After it was done took it for ride and after about 15min started leaking next to the screw of thermostat that was changed.

Took it back and asked them if it was something else causing this and they said its either the thermostat or head gasket. So now they will change the thermostat incl the housing again and see if it still does it.

My question is what else could have been damaged during the overheat? is the head gasket the last thing that could have been damaged or will i have to fork more money after that? is there a way to tell if head gasket is damaged?

Thanks

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:12 am

The skys the limit sorry to say.

Head gasket, cracked block, plus just about any other part that requires water.

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:16 am

Thanks

In other words, not worth me spending anymore money on it then.
I have just spend £500 and the car is only worth £1500.

I just wondered if there was a way to tell straight away, and not find out by replacing all the parts one by one

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:31 am

The mechanic should certainly have a clue as to what needs replacing, without spending anywhere near £500.00

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:14 pm

If its the head gasket suspected, he should be able to do a compression test to be sure.
If its leaking around a bolt, it could be an incorrectly seated thermostat gasket or cracked housing...

If its overheated badly, you may have damaged the head gasket.

The water pump is a common failiure on them, they have plastic impellors, the better ones have metal ones. Did he do you a new belt at the same time?

If you drive and it gets hot, switch the heater on, does that help reduce the temperature? That normally leans toward a thermostat issue.

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:46 pm

It came to £500 cos i did the breaks, boot lock, exhaust clips, water pump (inc belt), thermostat + car wash.

the breaks, boot and exhaust could have waited but i thought while the car is there might as well do it, i didn't know it was going to end up like this.

I must admit it did overheat badly but as i say had to get to the airport.

If when he does the thermostat again, and it doesn't work, how much are we talking about to do the head gasket?(roughly)

village idiot · Post by **village idiot** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:08 pm

if it overheated that badly the head could be warped
unfortunately modern cars are becoming harder & harder for the diy mechanic to work on, when my old mini blew it's head gasket it was a couple of hrs of my time & £7 for a gasket set to get her up & running again, if the head gasket went on the wife's mondeo zetec then due to the value of the car it would not be economically viable to repair by the time you take into consideration cost of gasket set, garage at £40/hr, head scim etc.
i'd consider having a go at the jalopy (shitroen zx dismal) because if it it doesn't work it's not the end of the world

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:09 pm

Hmmm been asked £300 to do the head gasket.

I dont have a problem with that, however for all i know something else could give up as well.
So i could end up paying more and more, there is nothing to guarantee me that the head gasket will be the last thing.

Raf · Post by **Raf** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:12 am

okay you need to change garage to be honest mate.

first they need to establish why it overheated; if it was thermo or water pump (both changed but you can look at the old parts and ascertain if they are at fault).

then for head gasket and and mentioned; you need the mechanic to do a compression test on each cylinder then a sniff test of the coolant. it is very easy to check HG failure.

if its failed you change it. if not leave it.

how is the car now? running okay? (probably not if you're still looking for faults).

wine~o · Post by **wine~o** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:23 pm

Raf wrote:okay you need to change garage to be honest mate.

first they need to establish why it overheated; if it was thermo or water pump (both changed but you can look at the old parts and ascertain if they are at fault).

then for head gasket and and mentioned; you need the mechanic to do a compression test on each cylinder then a sniff test of the coolant. it is very easy to check HG failure.

if its failed you change it. if not leave it.

how is the car now? running okay? (probably not if you're still looking for faults).

Thing is though, if the gasket has failed, there is no way of telling if the head has also warped without removing the head...I would ask them to do that, (remove the head) then if is warped...scrap. if not replace the gasket..

mikew1972 · Post by **mikew1972** » Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:08 pm

Might have been cheaper to pull over when it overheated and finish the journey in a taxi?
There will obviously have been a primary cause for the car to overheat but to carry on driving once it overheats can cause no end of problems. Sadly it is just the way it is that sometimes when there are multiple faults, perhaps one caused by another, caused by another it is not until one is fixed that you find out wether there is another or not. Equally it can be hard to say for sure what is cause and symptom. A warped cylinder head can cause the engine to overheat and can be caused by the engine overheating.

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:25 pm

Thanks all

When i got the car on Tuesday the car didn't feel right so i asked him what else could be? He said the head gasket (£300).
I haven't used the car since then but i will take it for a test drive tomorrow on motorway to see what happens.
One thing i have noticed is the heating is not working again, which makes me think it will give up again cos it stopped working the day that overheated as well. Temp gauge stays at 90, is that where is supposed to stay?

Will let you guys know how it goes tomorrow.
Tata

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:31 pm

Stick a can of rad weld in the radiator.

mikew1972 · Post by **mikew1972** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:31 pm

Could be water pump.
70 to 80 is more normal. But if it always goes straight to 90 and stays there - certainly no higher that should not be a problem.

2039487474 · Post by **2039487474** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:42 pm

This morning the heating came on after about 15min driving, temperature stayed at 90.
This afternoon the heating didn't come on at all after about 45min driving, the temperature did go to 115 once then back to 90.

Not sure if that means anything.

There is no leaks that i can see under the car.

Time will tell i suppose.