aw11 overheating problems.

**Brendan** · 03-04-2008, 06:04 PM

So i'm sitting in traffic and all of a sudden i notice my back window is fogged up, look at the temp guage and its a bit over 3/4 i think shit. I then see smoke...

I was about 1km from home and just getting out of the traffic and all didn't seem too bad. So homeward bound i go. I start moving and the air flow seems to bring temps down and im starting to relax a little, then slowly things start going back up and thats when i'm rushing home.

So a fair bit of steam, two or 3 crack or pops, which made me sad lol.

Checked oil, and there isnt any water in there. yay.

Checked the front radiatior, its cold, overflows at the front dead dry, looks like there hasnt been water pass thru there in years.

Checked the pipes at the front to radiator, both were warm but not hot.

Pipes at the back of the car were hot

Overflow was half full and steaming.

I doubt there is much water left in there.

So Aw11 gurus. Where are the common places for blocks? what else should i be looking for? What other problems could there be?

Thanks in advance.

**airfireman1** · 03-04-2008, 06:12 PM

check themostat it may not be opening hence no flow = cold radiator check waterpump, go and get your radiator water hydro carbon tested to make sure you have not blown the headgasket.

**Grippy** · 03-04-2008, 08:49 PM

Sounds like a thermostat, i would change that first, nice cheap and easy fix.

**MR22ZZ** · 03-04-2008, 10:07 PM

could also be a blockage in the radiator

**rthy** · 03-04-2008, 10:14 PM

This happened to me awhile back when i first bought my aw11. Most of the coolant was water, so after 10minutes of driving the water should steam up and evaporate. ended up flushed it all out and replaced it with brand new coolant. Been fine since.

**Ben Wilson** · 03-04-2008, 10:34 PM

It probably isn't blocked, it just needs bleeding.

**Mr Revhead** · 05-04-2008, 09:43 AM

yeah, look into the bleeding/refilling first
much easier to read the tips and do it right first than it is to sort an air locked aw11!!!

**Brendan** · 07-04-2008, 05:16 PM

thought i should update.

Changed thermostat and filled up the water and tried to bleed the system. Poor effort.

Its not overheating now though. Will have to do a full drain and flush soon though.

Is it normal for the front radiator to not get very hot in these cars? I can easily tough mine after 30 min trips. Its warm but thats it. But when filling it, it definately seems to flow so i don't think its blocked.