Cooling system

[ashy401]

Hi I have a ford galaxy mk2 tdi 115bhp pd on a 2002 reg. last week I was travelling from Liverpool down the m6 when my car overheated I stopped let it cool down I then bridged the fan switch so it was on constantly got another 50 miles or so and it said stop check coolant had to top it up with about 2 litres. Got home I changed the thermo stat around town it was ok.  Left Gloucester to go to Newquay got about 140miles temp stayed at 90 but telling me to check coolant level topped it up about 1litre an it got me to my destination. Check it in the morning my coolant hoses are hard and level low opened the cap coolant level back to max. Drove it around upto working temp checked hose top hose hot bottom hose cold.
The car had water pump and cam belt change in April this year.
Don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance

[Mirez]

Firstly, how well do you trust the garage/dealer that fitted the cam-belt and pump? The symptoms you describe are consistent with water pump failure / airlock but also head gasket failure.

If you drain the system and open the thermostat housing again you should be able to see and feel the impeller for the water pump - it should be locked in place as the engines not running so if you can move it then its failed. If it has then it could be sub-standard parts, simple failure or, possibly, it was never changed in the first place (not the first time a garage has claimed its been done when it hasn't).

When you refill the system its imperative you fill it ULTRA slowly - it's such a big run to the back matrix that it needs a lot of time for all the air to be displaced.

[ashy401]

Is there any bleed points on the cooling system. The heaters seem to work fine. Will try check the pump today an get bk with results

Thanks

[Chrispb]

Was the water pump changed for issues with overheating or just precautionary

[ashy401]

There was no history of timing belt change since 110000. Got it at 203000 so do belt and pump.

[Chrispb]

This looks very much like early stages of head gasket failure but usually you will suffer heater going warm to cold, what is the outcome with this pump, have you checked the impeller?
Also does the auxiliary coolant pump work (behind fuel filter)

[ashy401]

Haven't had time to check pump. Not sure if the aux pump is working. Heaters are working fine nice and hot.

[Burtie]

Haven't had time to check pump. Not sure if the aux pump is working. Heaters are working fine nice and hot.

You can hear the run on pump soon as you turn on ignition now and again but when you switch your car off if you open bonnet first you can certainly hear it it's fixed to the bulkhead at the back of expansion tank

[SilverBeast]

Note:- The pump on the TDI 130 doesn't remain on when the ignition is switched off.

I find the easiest way to check is to:-
(i) Open the bonnet and locate the pump
(ii) Switch on the ignition so all the lights come on, but don't start the engine
(iii) Switch off the fans for the heating/ventilation system (climate controls turn fan speed down until it says off)
(iv) If the pump is running you should hear it running when stood in front of the engine.  You can hold the pump and you will feel it vibrating if it's running.

On mine when I moved the pump I could feel it start up and it kept running for a bit.  It can do this when the brushes are worn down like mine were.

[ashy401]

 Hi checked the auxilary pump an it's not working must need new bushes. Got time tomorrow to check water pump and do a coolant pressure test.
Got the car nice and hot yesterday left it over nite and my coolant hoses are still quiet hard.  Release the pressure cap and coolant level rises back to max no coolant loss using round town. Only seems to be on long journeys.