overheating issues

HI guys...IF anyone can help me diagnose this problem it would greatly help my chances of getting to Wales next week

Took my car out yesterday, after about 15-20 minutes i get terrible misfire when i put my foot down. After about 5 minutes of this i'm engulfed in steam. A look in the back shows that the coolant had sprayed all over the engine bay and it seems to have come from the top of the expansion bottle and not a split hose.

Anyway, nurse the car home, refill all coolants, leave to cool down, refill, drive 30 seconds up the road and back and all is good. So I leave it over night, get up today, check the levels and head out...70+ down the motorway no problems. Then after about 10-15 minutes the misfire returns, pull over and again the coolant is eveywhere and has definatly come from the top of the expansion bottle.

Now my uneducated guess is the water pump has siezed....is there anything else i could check to find out for sure?
Any help before i wreck the engine greatly appriciated

At this point, i am assuming the missfire is being caused by water being sprayed all over the ignition leads.

Either water pump issues. An airlock. Or the coolant system being pressureised, caused by a failing head gasket. Or leaks in the inlet manifold causing the water system to be pressureised when the Turbo is in use.

What does the temp gauge say ?

Thanks Paul...your right to assume the missfire is due to the engine being coated in coolent. Checked through my stuff and had a new pump last april....so might not rule that out but makes it less probable ...

Not seeing any signs of head gasket issues but hey...famous last words

Airlock is a good option for the optimist. i was reading up on that on a previsous post...might see if i can rule that in or out.

Would a knackered thermostat be a probable cause? if it were stuck open or shut?

If it was good before then an airlock is not likely .Take the belt off and check the pump turns .Best scenario ? dodgy cap ,worst ? trip to Belfast or Derbyshire

Temp gauge (and all others) are cool (in all senses of the word.)

If it was good before then an airlock is not likely .Take the belt off and check the pump turns .Best scenario ? dodgy cap ,worst ? trip to Belfast or Derbyshire

You what

edit that...found a spare cap...will give it a go

[BIG_MVS]

Just pray Simonsays doesn't turn up here with his kiss of death "send it over to belfast"

Could it be something silly like the expansion bottle top needs replacing?

[quote="BIG_MVS"]Just pray Simonsays doesn't turn up here with his kiss of death "send it over to belfast"

[quote]

I still have a card up my sleave.....the boozer up the way sells over 200 whiskeys (or whiskys)....might still get 'homestart'


Just replaced the top....will give it another run tomorrow

Hi I am near Tonbridge if you can get over to me, I have the equipment to diagnose your fault, I could look at it one evening if that helps. Give me a ring between 9am - 5pm weekdays and ask for Derek, Address is Brenchley Garage, Brenchley, Tonbridge, TN12 7NZ. Tel 01892 722275 p.s i'am not looking for any payment to take a look. I won't be around monday evening as i will be @ the ace cafe meet.

Thanks for all your offers of help ....off to the garage next week to sort the head gaskets out ..

Jules...have you been able to prove that the head gasket/s are at fault, if not, its worth checking the thermostat, as wax stats fail in the closed position which can cause probs....also if it is the gaskets, check to make sure that you have the correct Renault thermostat fitted, and its working before the engine is fired up again

Hi... Not sure if it will fix your problem but I had the same symptoms on my A610 a few years ago.

Bought a brand new cap from Reno and my problem was solved.

Good luck......

Andy...

Sorry Jules, slept in on my 'send 'er over to Belfast'

Hope you get it sorted out correctly

Anyway, thanks for freeing up the B+B in Wales for Suzanne and I