Overheating issues

[Litfan666]

I've had my golf mk3 gti 8valve for about 2 years now an since i had it, it overheats and when it does it makes a horrid rattling noise through the exhaust. Also its sometimes overheated and the clutch fails and doesn't let me pu tthe car into gear, but thats only happened once before..

Anyone got any ideas?

[gtigolfthree]

Hi, welcome to the site.  How do you know its over heating, is it the guage or is there steam, I am not sure your other issues are related, but more info on the over heating first as thats the most serious.

[Litfan666]

It's mainly the gauge goes right up and the rattling kinda noise only start when the gauge is saying it's overheating..

[gtigolfthree]

Does the fan on the radiator come on when the guage shows these temperatures, if not there is a switch on the radiator thats the usual culprit, but it should not reach these temps while steady driving say on a motorway and if it does there is something wrong with the cooling system, possibly airlocked, blocked radiator or thermostat jammed shut I wouldn't drive it with the guage above half way, give me more info and I'll try and narrow it down.

[Litfan666]

Well it usually stays around half way during normal driving.. which i figured is normal, but when the car is stood in traffic or the engine running and not moving it tends to heat up, and then the rattling noise through the exhaust starts.. the fan does come on but doesn't help much. i thought it was the holes that the previous owner drilled into the air box. but i'm trying to find a non drilled box even if isn't the cause

[gtigolfthree]

If its only doing it in traffic then its pretty sure to be the fan switch replace it and see how you get on. Nothing to do with the airbox, the holes give you an extra 20, sorry 2 bhp.   

[Litfan666]

Yeah i didn't want holes in the air box haha.. they were in when i got the car..

i'll give that a try. Any ideas for the rattling noise when it does overheat? Cause i only hear it then, never any other times..

[gtigolfthree]

The noise  is the engine letting you know its not happy, fix the overheating problem and it should be ok. 

[Litfan666]

Brilliant stuff, one last question, how much roughly is a new switch?

[Litfan666]

Also in a completely unrelated problem, my hand brake keeps seizing on after standing more than a few days, and also freezes on in freezing weather.. any ideas?