GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Golf mk4 TDI => Topic started by: smiiithy on 15 January 2010, 12:42

Title: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 15 January 2010, 12:42
I know this is a complete novice question, but when I started driving this morning I got "STOP.. Check Coolant" and a warning light. It's on continuously. Do I need to use a specific type of coolant for my MK4 TDi? Where does it go? :embarassed:

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Rhyso on 15 January 2010, 12:49
Dealers and G12++

about £6 for 1.5 litres IIRC

Have you lost any coolant??  If you have get it checked out.  If not the sensor in the tank is playing up; either scrape the prongs or replace the entire bottle for £12
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Jay on 15 January 2010, 13:02
I'd check your coolant level (round bottle possibly under a plastic cover you lift off, it has a large screw off cap), if it's low have it checked out - if not then as Rhys said could be the sensor.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 15 January 2010, 13:32
Checked the bottle and it is low. The bottle has G12 written on it.

I've rang the local Halfrauds who tell me they stock G12 but not G12++. Is it essential for me to get the ++?

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 15 January 2010, 13:36
Now spoken to local stealers and its £7-something for 1.5L of G12++, going down there now
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 15 January 2010, 17:10
Topped it up with G12++ and the message has gone.

Cheers guys.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Jay on 15 January 2010, 22:56
Keep an eye on the level over the next 2 months.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 10:03
Grrr it's back :angry:
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Adam on 16 January 2010, 12:22
Grrr it's back :angry:

Has it gone down? Look for leaks in the pipwork.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 12:26
Going to check when I get a break at work.

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 13:10
Yes it's loosing coolant. It's back down to the min line. I can see fluid in the engine bay all around where the washer bottle is. It looks like one of the pipes has been patched with black electrical tape. I can see this Golf is going to cause me as many problems as the Clio did :angry: What do I do now?
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: godsANGER on 16 January 2010, 13:18
Yes it's loosing coolant. It's back down to the min line. I can see fluid in the engine bay all around where the washer bottle is. It looks like one of the pipes has been patched with black electrical tape. I can see this Golf is going to cause me as many problems as the Clio did :angry: What do I do now?

lol i had a clio and all i had was problems with it and now I ve got a golf all my problems have just been down to bad luck and the common faults the golfs have like the leaking rear wiper etc.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 13:21
I've got that too :sad: My clutch and flywheel needed doing after 2 days of ownership
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: godsANGER on 16 January 2010, 13:27
well i’ve got a leak in my boot from my rear washer pipe (connected but still leaking haven’t used it in weeks) had my front bushes done and  need my rear ones doing soon and I’ve got the passenger side lock problem. But still love it :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 14:01
What do I do now? Where can I get a replacement pipe? Could it be that something hasn't been connected back up when the clutch was done last week?

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 16 January 2010, 15:43
It's £21 to temporarily insure my Clio for another week. I'm taking it back to the garage who replaced the clutch to check it out and do what needs doing. Does anybody know if the coolant header tank and pipes would have been disconnected/taken out while it was having the clutch replaced?
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 18 January 2010, 12:29
Before I drove the Golf to the garage I topped the coolant bottle up with water and I didn’t get any warnings all the way there.

I’ve just had a call from the garage who tell me they have had it running for the best part of 2 hours (I’ll be needing diesel then) and they can’t see it leaking anywhere. I’ve asked them to drain the coolant, refill it and put it on the rolling road. Turns out they’ve only got a break tester but I’m waiting for a further call to see what they can do.
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 18 January 2010, 13:22
sh!t.. tested and it's the head gasket :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Rhyso on 18 January 2010, 13:34
sh!t.. tested and it's the head gasket :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

gutted  :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 18 January 2010, 13:40
I'm going to get a bus pass  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

The garage is advising me I should send the head gasket off to a specialist and get it 'skimmed'. Is this my best option or should I just get a new head gasket? I've been quoted £80+VAT from a local supplier. I already have a timing belt kit and water pump ready to fit so I suppose I might as well get them done since it's coming off anyway
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: Jay on 18 January 2010, 13:55
It's the head that will need to be skimmed, not the gasket. £80 sounds fair. Ask the mech that will put it all back together to check it is an even surface before rebuilding it. I would still check out that leak you found as it might be that still  :undecided:
Title: Re: Urgent help needed
Post by: smiiithy on 18 January 2010, 14:15
8 - 9 hours labour including the fitting of the timing belt and water pump £304+VAT

Head tested, skimmed etc £65
    If I take it down myself and pay cash I might well get it for £50 and I'm off tomorrow

Total bill is going to be a maximum of £433 inc VAT
My mechanic with the slipped disc is going to give one of the lads a call and see if I can get the labour knocked down by a further £50 or more

Doing the timing belt and water pump in 6 months time would have been £200-300ish anyway?