Corsa 1.4 2007 Weird Overheating

JessStars said:
Thanks Chromedome

I'll check the colour. The radiator was flushed when the thermostat was replaced in September could it have built up muck since then? I haven't put water in since then just anti-freeze
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Probably not, what I meant was, seeing as you're going to be checking the cooling system you might as well ensure that the coolant is exactly that and not rusty brown gunk.
 
Hi everyone

Thanks for all of your help. I checked everything and there were no leaks or cracks that I could see and I phoned my dad to ask him about the anti-freeze/water mixture and he said he definitely did it properly. My drive home yesterday and back to work this morning was in similar traffic conditions and my car behaved normally. I'm not sure what happened that one time but it seems to be working normally now. so strange.

Thanks again for all of the advice and help you guys rock.
 
I know you had your thermostat changed, but it definitely sounds like one in the initial stages of going full retard. It's always possible that you got a new one from a bad batch.
 
Ho3n3r said:
I know you had your thermostat changed, but it definitely sounds like one in the initial stages of going full retard. It's always possible that you got a new one from a bad batch.
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Overheating at standstill = airflow
Overheating while moving = waterflow.
 
Ho3n3r said:
I know you had your thermostat changed, but it definitely sounds like one in the initial stages of going full retard. It's always possible that you got a new one from a bad batch.
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Thanks for the advice. I'll ask my dad to check it out for me this weekend. It's better to be safe than sorry :)
 
(1) There are 2 types of anti freeze available, one which requires mixing in the right proportions with water, and the other is "ready to use".
(2) The most likely cause as previously stated is a temporary problem with the fan - bad connection which showed up when the engine started getting hot. Check the fuse, and the connector to the fan for dirt etc.
(3) It is possible that the thermostat got stuck for some reason or other. Unlikely but not all that uncommon.
(4) Watch the coolant level. If it regularly needs stopping up, you have a leak somewhere that only becomes obvious when the engine is hot. The coolant evaporates and never gets to the point where a puddle on the floor becomes obvious. You have to check the car with the engine running and at operating temperature to see these leaks.

(a) At the top hose on the LHS of the engine. This hose stretches and starts leaking mostly at the engine side not on the radiator. ( Try and tighten the clip, but mostly a new hose is the answer.
(b) A long pipe running the length of the engine behind the engine at the back. Difficult to see a leak here. A crack is responsible.
(c) The water pump gasket is leaking. This is the most common one, caused by the pump NOT being put back properly by the mechanic who replaced the thermostat. The Corsa is difficult to work on, they take short cuts and do not ensure the pump seats properly and do not tighten the bolts correctly.

How do I know? ( we have three Corsa in the family, with another 2 in the extended family). EVERY single time one of those went in for a service and work was done on the water pump, the leak started on EVERY single one of these cars!. It does not matter if an agent does it or another mechanic , the result is always the same!

PS: If you are in the PTA/Centurion area, let me know and I will send you a PM of a mechanic that knows how to fix Corsas properly.
 
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To track down leaks, look for white deposits near pipes, joints etc.
 
JessStars said:
Thanks Chromedome

I'll check the colour. The radiator was flushed when the thermostat was replaced in September could it have built up muck since then? I haven't put water in since then just anti-freeze
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Pure antifreeze is a no no.... does not dissipate heat as well as water, so your car ends up working harder to cool down.

Antifreeze does increase the boiling point of water, but you cannot run too high a concentration of antifreeze. Although the coolant will not start boiling, it will run warmer as recommended.
 
daniellgr said:
PS: If you are in the PTA/Centurion area, let me know and I will send you a PM of a mechanic that knows how to fix Corsas properly.
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Thanks for the advice! My dad is in logistics so he has his own mechanics that can look at it for me. I don't always want to run to him though: because he lives far from me and it isn't always feasible to get to him and his mechanics are used to working on trucks. When they replaced my thermostat last yar they installed my fan upside down and forgot to plug it in so I don't have the most confidence in them. :)

The coolant level was fine so I don't think there are any leaks but I will keep an eye on everything while I drive in the next few days. It did seem to be behaving yesterday afternoon and this morning so hopefully it will continue to behave.
 
boxerulez said:
Remember at idle the waterpump also moves less water than at higher rpm, thus standstill could also be a water flow issue.
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This makes sense. When my thermostat broke last year it was overheating when I was idling and cooling down when I was driving.

Unless I misunderstand the point of a thermostat and now I sound like a dunderhead.
 
Sinbad said:
Overheating at standstill = airflow
Overheating while moving = waterflow.
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Both are waterflow. The airflow cools the radiator, which contains water, which in turn gets cooled by the radiator.

Hence, the slower the car is travelling, the hotter the water, and the hotter the engine.

More info on how cooling systems work here:
http://www.carparts.com/classroom/coolingsystem.htm
 
Sinbad said:
Sigh, never mind.
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I think I understand what you're saying now... if it's overheating while standing still it is an airflow issue because there isn't any air going over the radiator to cool down the coolant - there is likely something wrong with the fan then?

if it's overheating while moving then the water isn't flowing into the radiator properly and therefore the coolant isn't getting cooled and there is a problem with the water flowing through the engine and radiator?
 
JessStars said:
I think I understand what you're saying now... if it's overheating while standing still it is an airflow issue because there isn't any air going over the radiator to cool down the coolant - there is likely something wrong with the fan then?

if it's overheating while moving then the water isn't flowing into the radiator properly and therefore the coolant isn't getting cooled and there is a problem with the water flowing through the engine and radiator?
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Spot on.
 
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