- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
- 3
- 81
where the heck do I start..
well I just got back from a 500 mile round trip to Central California coast. I didnt seem to have any problem getting there. However on the way back things started to happen.
When I came up the 101 to the hill at camarillio the car's water temprature gauge went to half. After which it kept at half, rising a bit and then falling down because the fan would kick in. Now in normal driving it sits about a centimeter above the letter "C" on the gauge. It only rises to that half when I am in stop and go traffic or under some stress. When under stress it rises a bit not going to half though. However it was running Hot this time (hot cause it never runs in that portion before.
Anyway this is what I noticed, while going up that hill I was doing 65 - 70 and very easliy. I thought it might have to do with teh cold air (it does perform better on cold days), but this was unusual. I was doing 70 and could have gone higher no problems. It wasnt going thru the "lack of power" routine that I get everytime I get to that hill. Normally I have to shift to 3rd gear (4 speed manual) and do about 55 Mph.. this time it went in 4th with no problems.
Anyway I finally couldnt take anymore of seeing the indicator up in the middle i pulled in for a break at my parents place. About 20 minutes later I took off. The car was in its normal operating range while I was on teh streets (didnt give a hint of overheating in stop and go traffic or at the lights), but as soon as I got on to the freeway it went to half.
What the fsck is going on?
I will check the oil and coolant levels when the car cools down enough. But what else coudl it be other than those two. I mean at 65 the cold air is plenty enough to cool the engine and the radiator and Yet it stayed at half. When I left LA I checked the coolant it seemed fine to me. The external reservior was between "L and F" (normal) and the radiator was full with teh green stuff. The engine oil I didnt check but I had checked it the previous week or two back so I didnt bother cause I had topped it off then.
Somehow the whole thing of having (extra) power than usual plus running hot is bugging me. Otherwise the car runs fine. Its running a bit noisy (could be idling high or the valve adjustment is needed). The car has 121900 miles on the clock. Its oil was changed about 5000 miles back (normally do 3000 - 6000 mile change - depending on driving conditions, but mostly 6000 mile changes).
Edit: In the last two years (2000, 2001) I had to change teh water pump cause it broke. I hope its not that, I dont have that much money to fix the bloody car. I rather sell it and get my Jetta VR6 (but my model wont show up until week 41 of the model year)
Thanks
TGG
well I just got back from a 500 mile round trip to Central California coast. I didnt seem to have any problem getting there. However on the way back things started to happen.
When I came up the 101 to the hill at camarillio the car's water temprature gauge went to half. After which it kept at half, rising a bit and then falling down because the fan would kick in. Now in normal driving it sits about a centimeter above the letter "C" on the gauge. It only rises to that half when I am in stop and go traffic or under some stress. When under stress it rises a bit not going to half though. However it was running Hot this time (hot cause it never runs in that portion before.
Anyway this is what I noticed, while going up that hill I was doing 65 - 70 and very easliy. I thought it might have to do with teh cold air (it does perform better on cold days), but this was unusual. I was doing 70 and could have gone higher no problems. It wasnt going thru the "lack of power" routine that I get everytime I get to that hill. Normally I have to shift to 3rd gear (4 speed manual) and do about 55 Mph.. this time it went in 4th with no problems.
Anyway I finally couldnt take anymore of seeing the indicator up in the middle i pulled in for a break at my parents place. About 20 minutes later I took off. The car was in its normal operating range while I was on teh streets (didnt give a hint of overheating in stop and go traffic or at the lights), but as soon as I got on to the freeway it went to half.
What the fsck is going on?
I will check the oil and coolant levels when the car cools down enough. But what else coudl it be other than those two. I mean at 65 the cold air is plenty enough to cool the engine and the radiator and Yet it stayed at half. When I left LA I checked the coolant it seemed fine to me. The external reservior was between "L and F" (normal) and the radiator was full with teh green stuff. The engine oil I didnt check but I had checked it the previous week or two back so I didnt bother cause I had topped it off then.
Somehow the whole thing of having (extra) power than usual plus running hot is bugging me. Otherwise the car runs fine. Its running a bit noisy (could be idling high or the valve adjustment is needed). The car has 121900 miles on the clock. Its oil was changed about 5000 miles back (normally do 3000 - 6000 mile change - depending on driving conditions, but mostly 6000 mile changes).
Edit: In the last two years (2000, 2001) I had to change teh water pump cause it broke. I hope its not that, I dont have that much money to fix the bloody car. I rather sell it and get my Jetta VR6 (but my model wont show up until week 41 of the model year)
Thanks
TGG
Facebook
Twitter