Missing parts/temp spike

[FlyBoy]

I was looking down at my engine today (because of a coolant temp spike and warning light), and noticed that I could see the floor all around my engine. When I got under there, the whole centre plastic piece is missing. The sides are intact, but the front ends were unclipped.

I would like to think that I would have noticed dragging a part as large as this before it got ripped off (and the clip-nuts are still in place on the sides, so I don't think it was). Is this piece removed for servicing (oil change or otherwise, had my 64k service a few months ago)? If it is removed maybe someone just forgot to put it back on, like the stem caps on my nice wheels....

Should I bother replacing it? I sometimes have to drive through snow drifts to get into the alley where my parking space is, so I don't really want snow getting crammed around the engine bay.

As to the temp spike/warning light - I was driving on Deerfoot, and the temp light came on so I slowed down a bit and turned on the heater full blast. The temp came down fairly quick. I have the new (green) temp sensor, so I am wondering if anyone know what else the prob could be. Coolant level seems to be good, and was definately flowing to the rad. I don't know if the fans came on because I don't notice them when they do.

Thanks for the help.

Jeff
01 Jetta GLS

[Kor]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

I removed all the plastic under and in front of my engine on purpose.

Yes, it serves a purpose - keeping rocks and dirt out.

But it is not really necessary.

[stefan]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

thermostat? could be temp sensor i guess, mine was dropping codes, even though it wasnt triggering and CELs or anything. I would think if you were down a fan, it would not cool down again.

[Gumby]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Waterpump impeller broke... very common.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Waterpump impeller broke... very common.

Expensive? I hear the waterpump gets done with the timing belt regardless of if it is shot or not. Don't want to have to pay to get in there twice if I can help it.

Jeff

[stefan]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Expensive? I hear the waterpump gets done with the timing belt regardless of if it is shot or not. Don't want to have to pay to get in there twice if I can help it.

Jeff

thats a crappy thing to be 'very common' glad i got mine done with timing belt.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Got my car back today (a day late...) Turns out the problem with over heating was a faulty temp sensor. The same sensor that I replaced June 2004, and has since been revised again. Dunno why I didn't get a CEL. Ah well, got my service manual now, so I can look into things in more depth.

[stefan]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Got my car back today (a day late...) Turns out the problem with over heating was a faulty temp sensor. The same sensor that I replaced June 2004, and has since been revised again. Dunno why I didn't get a CEL. Ah well, got my service manual now, so I can look into things in more depth.

i didnt get a cel either, just caught it with a VAG-COM. i did leave a code.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Car overheated again today. Guess it wasn't the temp sensor. Time to dig through the manual.

[Kor]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Car overheated again today. Guess it wasn't the temp sensor. Time to dig through the manual.

Still would say the pump...

[Flanders]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

My votes on the pump too. How many km's on the car?

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

My votes on the pump too. How many km's on the car?

Almost 68k. I checked with Northland (where I normally go for service) and they say I'm still under warranty, but they couldn't get it to overheat while they had it so they did a code scan and found the error with the coolant sensor. I really don't want to take it in unless I know for sure it's the pump, those "diagnostic fees" at $91/hr can get expensive if its not a warranty issue. It also seems to take a good 15 min of driving at 80 km/h or more after warming up to overheat.

Started to overheat on the drive home, and I pulled over immediately and popped the hood while it was running and still hot. The fans weren't running, so I will check that they are working properly tomorrow. The service manual says to use a "fused jumper" to test the fans. Anyone know if this is just a CYA statement and a wire straight across the pins should be fine?

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

I checked the fans today since I can never really recall seeing them running. Turns out the fans are not running at the second speed. Problem seems to be with the fan control module as there is voltage at the thermal switch on the rad and not at the fans. Guess I will price one out tomorrow.

Coolant is definately flowing into the expansion tank, so I don't think the pump is shot (yet). Could still be the thermostat I guess.

[zero10]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

My money is on the thermostat.
If it doesn't open, the rad never gets hot. So, the fans will never come on.
If it only sticks sometimes, then it will create a difficult to reproduce problem, that can come and go. I had this exact same problem on my subaru, and it took until it was right into the red before the thermostat would finally open, and it would cool down REALLY fast once it did. Of course, turning the heat on slow blast delayed the overheating a bit.
Once I removed the thermostat, I found it to be somewhat covered in corrosion, and some sludge (yeah, didn't use distilled water with the antifreeze), changed it out, and the problem never came back.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Missing parts/temp spike

Fan control module: $243.99 (5th Ave)
Install: $0 (I can do this myself)

Thermostat: $59.42 (5th Ave)
Install: $100 (estimated about an hour to install by NL)

I think I will do the thermostat first. Let NL deal with the mess of coolant. Plus the problem really doesn't seem to be with the fans (even though they technically aren't working properly).