Reported overheating on dash, but car doesn't appear to overheat.

[Chew22]

Hi everyone,

Been scowering the internet for hours and not quite finding the same issue as others.

2014 Golf GTI PP.

Noticed a check engine light when I started the car up yesterday. Other than the light, no warning message or sounds came up.

Drove the car for an hour or so, then back home later in the day. Car appeared to drive as it has for years.

However I noticed the temp gauge was sitting around 120 when I was nearly home. Not quite in the red, but sitting close.

Plugged in the OB11 and it's kicking out P2681 and P00B7. A lot of reading online suggests a failed waterpump and/or thermostat. However, I'm not getting any coolant loss whatsoever, and there is no coolant residue near the water pump. The engine does not appear to be overly hot after a drive and aiming a thermometer gun all over the engine and pipework, it seems to be around 60/70degrees.

This morning when I cold started the car (with a outdoor temp of around 10degrees C) the needle immedately showed 60 degrees, and was up to about 90 in about 3 mins of driving very gently on 30mph roads. A few mins on the duel carrage way, it was sitting at 120degrees again.

However, every time I turn the car off, it goes back to 90degrees for about 30 seconds, then instantly flicks right back up to 120. When the gauge reads 120, the radiator fan runs at full speed.

Could this more likely be an issue with the 2 temp sensors than the thermostat and water pump?

[Carbon VW]

Hi there. How is the coolant level in the expansion tank? to me it does sound like the thermostat housing/water p/p unit has gone bad. It may be knackered even though there is no apparent coolant leak, residue. Obviously get it checked out by a specialist as impossible to diagnose over the internet. Good luck

[Chew22]

Thanks for your reply.

All roads do appear to lead towards the Waterpump. Is there a temp sensor built into it?

I only ask as I disconnected the sensor near the HPFP and on the radiator and the gauge still acted the same/strangly.

The coolant doesn't appear to be going down. There doesn't seem to be any leaking from the waterpump, but as it's so buried, it's hard to see properly.

I imagine, despite the pump likely being broken, it is still cooling the car? As apart from the CEL, high reading gauge and radioator fan running, it doesn't appear the car is actaully over heating.

It's booked in for Thursday at a local garage. Will report back

[Chew22]

Fixed at a local independant garage. Needed new waterpump and thermostat. Also had an unrelated boost leak so needed some new piping. All in all £1100!!!

[Carbon VW]

Fixed at a local independant garage. Needed new waterpump and thermostat. Also had an unrelated boost leak so needed some new piping. All in all £1100!!!

long live interent diagnostics! thats the only failure ive had in my 2013 gti so you should have hassle free motoring from now on if you look after her!

[Finglonga]

long live interent diagnostics! thats the only failure ive had in my 2013 gti so you should have hassle free motoring from now on if you look after her!

I am on my third, two under warranty and a third one last year on my 2014 GTI.

[Carbon VW]

long live interent diagnostics! thats the only failure ive had in my 2013 gti so you should have hassle free motoring from now on if you look after her!

I am on my third, two under warranty and a third one last year on my 2014 GTI.

what mods have you got ?(if any) that sounds excessive.

[Finglonga]

what mods have you got ?(if any) that sounds excessive.

None except a Remus Rear box on the first and second one replaced by main stealers, third one fitted by an indi VW specialist and is fine so far with full Cobra Sports Cat exhaust and tune.

[sjw]

long live interent diagnostics! thats the only failure ive had in my 2013 gti so you should have hassle free motoring from now on if you look after her!

I am on my third, two under warranty and a third one last year on my 2014 GTI.

what mods have you got ?(if any) that sounds excessive.

Why would mods make any difference? It's a known weak point of the car and there have been like 6 revisions of it.

[Carbon VW]

long live interent diagnostics! thats the only failure ive had in my 2013 gti so you should have hassle free motoring from now on if you look after her!

I am on my third, two under warranty and a third one last year on my 2014 GTI.

what mods have you got ?(if any) that sounds excessive.

Why would mods make any difference? It's a known weak point of the car and there have been like 6 revisions of it.

Yes I understand it’s a weak point but to be on the third one is excessive, especially as the newer installed parts would be revision parts.