Stop Light And Overheating

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Hi,

I've just had my car back from having various body work, including inner wings and front panel work. On my way home the STOP light came on and the fan was on full blast. Unfortunately my water temp gauge doesn't work.

 

I suspect the warning light came on due to overheating as the oil pressure seems fine. When I collected the car the garage checked the coolant level and put a lot more anti freeze in. I wasn't sure why, considering the work done, it would need fluids topping up.

 

I can't check the levels as the car was way too hot and I had to leave it at my parents house. Would over filling coolant cause over heating though? I've never had the issue before it going in for the work.

 

I also noticed one driving light no longer working and one headlight not working. Its so frustrating because the body work was the last thing the car needed!

[erbs 42 1 Cars]

Over heating suggests water pump or maybe a blockage, do you know how old the pump is?

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Yeah the pump was new in 2013 and the car has done approx 2k miles since then. Anything you can think of that could link it to the work done? Seems like too much of a coinsidience

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

Possible airlock in the system? Run it stationary up to temp with the header tank cap off. Run it long enough to get the stat open and the fans to kick in, checking for bubbles in the header tank. Top up if necessary. That way of bleeding seems to work for me.

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Thanks Alan, I'll give that a try and report back! Silly question, but how do you check the level on a phase 1.5? You can't see the fluid level outside the tank. Am I right in thinking it should sit between the cut out section of the red insert?

[MKrisz92 2]

Exactly, between the two cut outs.

[erbs 42 1 Cars]

also might be the thermostat not opening on the circuit

[Pugleyrich 37 1 Cars]

Thanks for the replies. I managed to check levels yesterday whilst cool and there was hardly any coolant. I topped it up, bled the system and taken it for a 6 mile drive. All seemed fine so fingers crossed its fixed. I guess the pipe in the wheel arch was disconnected during the body work which is why the coolant needed topping up.