Car overheating at low speeds - Engines Forum - Peugeot 306 GTi-6 & Rallye Owners Club

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Subject: Car overheating at low speeds

vik

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Location: london

Registered: 01 Jan 1970

Posts: 34

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Post #1

My car is overheating a lot at low speeds, sometimes it's OK, but most of the time once it's warmed up, will overheat after just a few minutes in traffic.

Constant warm air coming out of the vents and stinks of coolant too. Dreading head gasket problems as I'm 1000 miles from home and need to drive back in a couple of days!

One of the fans on the front doesn't seem to be coming on, is this enough to cause problems on it's own? I wouldn't have thought so?

Is there anything I can do other than topping up the coolant?

Posted 5th May 2012 at 19:04

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bigbadbowen

Seasoned Pro

Location: Winchester

Registered: 21 Nov 2003

Posts: 13,753

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Post #2

Sounds like air block ? You need to bleed the system ? There is a bleed valve on the rad, thermostat housing and the pipes that run to the heater matrix ?

Are you loosing coolant ? If it smells of coolant inside the car then heater matrix is on its way out but this won't cause over heating ?

One fan coming on is normal the other is for aircon Thumbs up

Posted 5th May 2012 at 19:11

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mattgti6phase2

Seasoned Pro

Location: inside my 6 abusing the tarmac!!

Registered: 16 Jul 2010

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Post #3

If you have 2 fans they should both come on at low speed 97oC IIRC. 105oC for high speed fans again both spinning.

If you unplug the brown sensor on the thermostat housing it should cut the fans in at high speed if it does then leave it with the fans running to stop it over heating until you can get it looked at.

As above though i agree the matrix could be showing the first signs of letting go. As said try all the bleed valves with the heating on full and the fans on high.

________________________________________

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Posted 5th May 2012 at 20:25

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darzmat

Senior User

Location: nairn

Registered: 14 Jan 2011

Posts: 879

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Post #4

mine did this before, as said, it was an air lock, i would try bleeding it first to rule an airlock out.

________________________________________

1997 blaze GTI-6 bought january '11 £800

Spend to date on parts £827.88

Posted 5th May 2012 at 20:30

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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

Location: Kent

Registered: 18 Jan 2004

Posts: 21,768

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Post #5

As Matt says, both the fans should run together at 97C at low speed and then 107C at high speed. Because the wiring for the fans are in series for the low speed if one fan is not working, then neither will work. In the high speed setup the fans are in parallel wiring so if one fan is broken the other will still work. Yes

My advice, top the coolant up and bleed the system then keep your eye on it til you get home. As already stated, the smell of coolant inside the car will most likely because you've got a damp footwell due to a leaking matrix so this will also need looking at on your return. Smile

________________________________________

"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love

Posted 6th May 2012 at 08:17

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vik

Newbie

Location: london

Registered: 01 Jan 1970

Posts: 34

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Post #6

Thanks, always grateful for helpful replies, will give it a go tomorrow.

Have been to STOP four or five times now though, hope i havent broken anything too badly!

Posted 6th May 2012 at 21:29

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welshpug!

Capt Pedantic

Location: Bigend, Wales.

Registered: 27 Mar 2007

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Post #7

leaky matrix often goes hand in hand with a blown HG.

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Bring on the Trumpets.

Posted 6th May 2012 at 21:41

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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

Location: Kent

Registered: 18 Jan 2004

Posts: 21,768

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Post #8

welshpug! wrote:

leaky matrix often goes hand in hand with a blown HG.

This is so often the case. Yes

________________________________________

"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love

Posted 6th May 2012 at 22:22

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vik

Newbie

Location: london

Registered: 01 Jan 1970

Posts: 34

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Post #9

Update: Drove back through Europe, had to top up coolant 5 times during journey. All disappearing and no obvious leak! Surely HG?

Got off the ferry, drove 50 miles, overheat, top up rad, etc. But this time the temp doesn't come back down, wait for it to cool, overheats after 2 minutes every time. Call breakdown, diagnosis. Head gasket!

Pretty upset as I love this car, when I got it there were hardly any faults, but now have collected enough that I'll probably have to break it, which is a massive shame. The engine has only done 75k. Sad

Posted 11th May 2012 at 12:39

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welshpug!

Capt Pedantic

Location: Bigend, Wales.

Registered: 27 Mar 2007

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Post #10

why break? just spend the £400 odd to fix the HG and run it for years to come?

if there's other faults that's your own fault for neglecting it.

________________________________________

need a part number? get on here - http://public.servicebox.peugeot.com

Bring on the Trumpets.

Posted 11th May 2012 at 13:20

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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

Location: Kent

Registered: 18 Jan 2004

Posts: 21,768

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Post #11

welshpug! wrote:

why break? just spend the £400 odd to fix the HG and run it for years to come?

if there's other faults that's your own fault for neglecting it.

Agreed.

Why not save it and enjoy it for some more years?

________________________________________

"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love

Posted 11th May 2012 at 15:31

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gnrlee Forum Admin

Location: Leeds

Registered: 20 Aug 2005

Posts: 8,882

Status: Offline

Post #12

again if you love it don't kill it,..

if you can get an engine cheep enough from a reputable source do an engine swap,..
then sell your old one?

i only suggest that because it's a proper kick when the bottom end goes after you've just forked out for the top end!
which I've heard of a few times on others Huh?

and been through myself Cry

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Proud Member of the ASTOR Owners Club

Posted 11th May 2012 at 15:40

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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

Location: Kent

Registered: 18 Jan 2004

Posts: 21,768

Status: Offline

Post #13

If you are going to break it, then you will be removing the engine anyway...

Why not just stick a decent second hand lump in there and put the car back on the road. Yes

You can pick up decent engines these days for like £300 and then you can be back behind the wheel. Thumbs up

________________________________________

"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love

Posted 11th May 2012 at 15:49

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welshpug!

Capt Pedantic

Location: Bigend, Wales.

Registered: 27 Mar 2007

Posts: 25,839

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Post #14

my mate dan has a rebuilt engine for about £350.

________________________________________

need a part number? get on here - http://public.servicebox.peugeot.com

Bring on the Trumpets.

Posted 11th May 2012 at 15:53

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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

Location: Kent

Registered: 18 Jan 2004

Posts: 21,768

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Post #15

welshpug! wrote:

my mate dan has a rebuilt engine for about £350.

Even better. Cool

What other faults does the vehicle have?

________________________________________

"Supercharged - 454.1bhp/317.5lb/ft"
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love

Posted 11th May 2012 at 15:55

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gnrlee Forum Admin

Location: Leeds

Registered: 20 Aug 2005

Posts: 8,882

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Post #16

stan_306gti6 wrote:

welshpug! wrote:

my mate dan has a rebuilt engine for about £350.

Even better. Cool

What other faults does the vehicle have?

defo that would count as a reputable source! may as well get the other bits sorted too!
get them listed this lot will help you get to the bottom of the things you can't Thumbs up

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Proud Member of the ASTOR Owners Club

Posted 11th May 2012 at 16:43

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fatlapit

Seasoned Pro

Location: STOCKSFIELD

Registered: 02 Nov 2010

Posts: 3,040

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Post #17

mate u dont even need 400 if u aint cooked it just change the headgasket and put a new set of bolts in it should be ok imo

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 17:23

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gnrlee Forum Admin

Location: Leeds

Registered: 20 Aug 2005

Posts: 8,882

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Post #18

without a skim? Unsure

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 17:30

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fatlapit

Seasoned Pro

Location: STOCKSFIELD

Registered: 02 Nov 2010

Posts: 3,040

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Post #19

Yeah like i. said if its not cooked and turned into a steam engine it will be fine

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 17:43

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gnrlee Forum Admin

Location: Leeds

Registered: 20 Aug 2005

Posts: 8,882

Status: Offline

Post #20

I was always under the impression that there maybe a small amount of warping just by removing the head and is strongly advised to get the head skimmed if removing it at all?

but if you get it skimmed you can get the compression up and it'll put that tiny bit harder too! Cool

but get a second engine and you have the original for a possible future charger project etc LOL

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Proud Member of the ASTOR Owners Club

Posted 11th May 2012 at 17:49

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fatlapit

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Location: STOCKSFIELD

Registered: 02 Nov 2010

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Post #21

The gasket will deal with slight warping i myself have 2 spare engines tho Smile

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 17:59

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welshpug!

Capt Pedantic

Location: Bigend, Wales.

Registered: 27 Mar 2007

Posts: 25,839

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Post #22

always needed a skim on these, its mainly corrosion not warping.

a steel gasket will not deal with warping.

________________________________________

need a part number? get on here - http://public.servicebox.peugeot.com

Bring on the Trumpets.

Posted 11th May 2012 at 18:08

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fatlapit

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Location: STOCKSFIELD

Registered: 02 Nov 2010

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Post #23

Sorry welshy mate but your wrong

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 18:10

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welshpug!

Capt Pedantic

Location: Bigend, Wales.

Registered: 27 Mar 2007

Posts: 25,839

Status: Offline

Post #24

nope, if its warped you need a skim.

________________________________________

need a part number? get on here - http://public.servicebox.peugeot.com

Bring on the Trumpets.

Posted 11th May 2012 at 18:12

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fatlapit

Seasoned Pro

Location: STOCKSFIELD

Registered: 02 Nov 2010

Posts: 3,040

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Post #25

Is that a forum old wives tail?

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Posted 11th May 2012 at 18:13

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