Engine not starting

[Ross]

From last night's brief conversation, I'd be a little worried about this one... surely an engine running at 120C with no coolant isn't going to do the head gasket any good?!

The addition of cold water can't be much good either, fingers crossed Andy - keep your AA card close to hand, if the head is warped of the gasket baked nigh-on to death then the next good thrash could be a bit of a disaster

Hopefully, disaster was narrowly averted here... reminds me a little of the "your car is on fire" cal i got from the security office at work once upon a time. Was a leaky radiator letting plumes of steam out of the grill...

[DarrenM]

Wise words!! My heads off at the mo after an incedent whereby i lost all my water after an overheat in a traffic jam, conciquently led to a blown headgasket. Head is currently being tested so should be hearing back ova next few days.

Hope its not warped...

[Sonic]

Cheers guys...

I checked this morning and there was a full header tank of water, and im guessing if there was a head gasket problem it would have dropped.

Any way to check for a cracked block or warped head gasket?

The coolant temp showed a max of about 110 before i got some water into the system. Didnt have have coolant handy hence why i used water, not 12 litres of it anyway!

Im conscious now that if the temperature drops over night then it could freeze the water and break the thing?

Also, i cant get it started now by covering the lasers... New hella radiator on the way from germany though

[HPmuirt]

When i cover both door sensors, put the key in the ignition and turn it - IT WORKS!

Ironic that it was the UltraSonics eh?

Cheers n

Si

[220bhp]

Sorry to hear about your problems, not good ,this happened to me some time ago, bottom hose came of when my wife was driving it.
There where no real symptoms at first, then the car began to give a few problems on starting when cold, like it was running on four for a few seconds, then it would run ok for a day or so, and the tempreture warning light would come on. The pressure was pushing the water out through the cap, not much about a ltr a week. There was no sign of oil in the water,or water in the oil, and the car ran ok for about 2 or 3 months.
Then the oil and the water started to mixs. The rest is history.
I do hope this is not the case with your car, but keep an eye on things just in case.

[4WheelDrifter]

It might be worth getting the engine compression/leak-down tested.
I'd certainly make sure that hose is secure and get some G12+ in the system. Then keep a close eye on coolant temperatures and levels.

[Sonic]

Problem now is i cant start the thing to get coolant round it even if i mix some in.

[s20ale]

Problem now is i cant start the thing to get coolant round it even if i mix some in.

Try dissing sensors alltogether, I had same problem and had to replace mine.

[Fat Audi 80]

I would recommend getting a hose off again and draining the system down and then filling it again by alternating between a litre or water and a litre of G12.

If you have only run it breifly at high temps and not thrashed it or driven too far I doubt you have done the head gasket. Once you get the starting problem sorted, you will just have to keep an eye on it for all the HG failure signs that everyone has already mentioned.

Best of luck Andy.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Acidburn]

When we did davids (s2driveruk) we mixed the g12 and water in a big bottle and filled it up to the line on the bolt, started the engine and un-did the nut on the top of the radiator to bleed the system. We then ran it till the temp got up and the heat came thru whilst topping up the fluid. You will get a pressure cooker type steam come out the bleed valve just keep topping up the system and checking the temp i.e. both on guage and hot air.

[Sonic]

I would recommend getting a hose off again and draining the system down and then filling it again by alternating between a litre or water and a litre of G12.

If you have only run it breifly at high temps and not thrashed it or driven too far I doubt you have done the head gasket. Once you get the starting problem sorted, you will just have to keep an eye on it for all the HG failure signs that everyone has already mentioned.

Best of luck Andy.

Cheers,

Steve.

When we did davids (s2driveruk) we mixed the g12 and water in a big bottle and filled it up to the line on the bolt, started the engine and un-did the nut on the top of the radiator to bleed the system. We then ran it till the temp got up and the heat came thru whilst topping up the fluid. You will get a pressure cooker type steam come out the bleed valve just keep topping up the system and checking the temp i.e. both on guage and hot air.

Invaluable info guys! Cheers

Managed to get my hands on some G12 coolant! I took off the hose going into the aux rad and drained all the water out of the system under gravity (taking of the header tank cap made a huge difference to drainage time!) then undid the bleed valve on the top of the radiator and filled up with coolant as suggested.

Sorted!

Forum beers all round when i next see everyone!

Now just to wait until next week to get the new rad in place and then sort alarm/immobiliser out...

[Greg_S]

Glad to hear you have this all sorted now

[Fat Audi 80]

Nice one Andy

[Sonic]

Car is still sat on the drive waiting for a radiator to arrive next week, then to get the alarm/immobiliser sorted, hoping that ive not done any damage to the block or gasket!

[Sonic]

Update:

Radiator has been fitted and i have been driving her around where possible over the last couple of days.

Engine seems fine after my overheating issue which is a relief, but still the odd sound to keep me as paranoid as usual.

The sensor thing i did to get the car started seemed to be a complete coincidence, although i have found a way to "reliably" get the car started. If i turn the key to the point it should be turning over and hold it, it will eventually start after a couple of minutes.

The other key point is that if ive had the car running, turn it off then on again it will start without a problem! Its only when i leave it for more than 15 mins or so that it becomes an issue to start.

Im thinking now maybe ignition problem as suggested earlier?

Cheers,

Andy