VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 25 May 2011 22:01
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - mark95
Hope someone can help, have recentley bought this car, superb history, had new rad, water pump in January. Just had new coolant sensor and expansion tank put in, but still overheating.
Fine for small journeys, but motorway nightmare
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 26 May 2011 01:54
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Avant

Moved to Technical.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 26 May 2011 10:32
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Peter.N.

Is it actually boiling and loosing water is is it just reading high? If its overheating in traffic I would suspect the cooling fan circuit but on motorways there should be enough airflow to keep it cool without the fans.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 26 May 2011 11:39
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - mark95

Is it actually boiling and loosing water is is it just reading high? If its overheating in traffic I would suspect the cooling fan circuit but on motorways there should be enough airflow to keep it cool without the fans.

Hi, The temp guage was bouncing up n down,but the replaced sensor seemed to take care of that. All i know is that the expansion tank was v hot and empty after a moderately short run. I have stopped using it for fear of a major problem occurring. Oh i forgot to mention that the thermostat was also replaced in January!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 26 May 2011 13:43
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - 659FBE

A VAG PD diesel engine very seldom needs its cooling fan.

If you are experiencing genuine overheating when the engine is being worked, the most likely cause is a water pump with a loose (plastic) impeller. Change to a pattern pump with a metal impeller.

659.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 26 May 2011 23:15
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - mark95

A VAG PD diesel engine very seldom needs its cooling fan.

If you are experiencing genuine overheating when the engine is being worked, the most likely cause is a water pump with a loose (plastic) impeller. Change to a pattern pump with a metal impeller.

659.

Thanks i'll try that

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 6 Jun 2011 13:46
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - mark95
Hi 659,
Well I've changed the water pump as it did have a plastic impeller, it looked alright but changed it anyway. Have had it all put back together.

It is still losing coolant. ( overheating)

One thing that puzzled me was that when stripping down, we noticed that there were several bolts missing around the cam belt and the main cam-belt sprocket had a timing mark ( to be expected) but it was 4 teeth shy from lining up with the mark on the block.
This i would've expected would make the car run badly, but the journey down to home the car ran fine (60 miles) apart from the coolant problem!
So i don't even want to think about the valves! - or will they affect the cooling system?
Is it possible that the incorrectly fitted cam-belt sprocket may have had something to do with my current problem?

I understand that this has been a problem with these cars before and you can access numerous forums, try every solution offered, though none of them seem to say which solution worked!

I have used this site on numerous vehicles over the years and have always had good sound advice, which is why I'm here again.

Just to recap;

The car has had,
A new radiator
New Expansion tank
New Coolant sensor
New Thermostat
New water pump
New Cam-belt

I'm running out of money now, and may have to cut my losses.
If the next step is a head gasket or a new head, i may have to sell it.

Does any one know what a 51 plate GT TDI is worth in this condition?

Thanks
Mark
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 6 Jun 2011 14:12
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Collos25
You have tried all the inobvious cures and they didn't work now look at the first thing you should have checked and that is the head gasget.All the symptoms you have described point in that direction quite common on the GT tdi probably why they sold it.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 6 Jun 2011 15:13
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Peter.N.

Sorry, I obviously didn't read your original post properly, if you are loosing a lot of water the first suspect is the head gasket leaking, pressurising the system and blowing the water out of the overflow/filler cap.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Jun 2011 11:55
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - mark95
Hello again, before attacking the head gasket, i was aware that that at this stage i was doubting the previous owners claims, so i checked his most recent work done,

BIG shock - no thermostat!

I believe that the omission of a thermostat is sometimes done to mask that there is a "Pressure" problem is that right?

New thermostat put in and the car is fine, runs beautifully, no loss of water, temp gauge fine - all that i wanted from the car in the first place!

Have now learnt that it is no longer 115bhp as has had a generic remap (whatever that is) and is probably now 150bhp - is that a good thing for the engine or a bad thing?

The previous owner has agreed to take the car back for a full refund inc costs and i I'm tempted to do that, don't know anything about remapping cars whether its good or bad.

Bottom line here, do you think that all the faults my car showed would just be down to an absent thermostat or do you think i should take the money and run?

All your comments/advice are greatly appreciated.

Mark95
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 8 Sep 2011 19:09
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - CalgonUK

hi pal this might be a major long shot but do you remember the REG plate of this car?

as im thinking i might have just baught it and are experiencing exactly the same problems, it has the remap,water pump and everything you've stated is new.

mine is WA51AEU, im so not hoping this is the same car

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 8 Sep 2011 19:13
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Collos25

Putting the thermostat back in will not cure the problem you described.You are either kidding us or yourself all that putting the thermostat back is to make the engine run hotter it cannot stop water boiling away the reason it had a new radiator etc was the previous owner tried everything possible before realising the head gasget had gone he then sold it.

Edited by Collos25 on 08/09/2011 at 19:18

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 9 Sep 2011 13:17
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - CalgonUK

well over the past week we've put a new thermostat in as the old 1 was definatly not working, but after taking it out for a long drive we think it isent just a headgasket more like a crack in either the head or block,

mainly because it gets up to temp fine, then as soon as you start to overtake/pedal to the metal, the temp jumps dramatically from 90*c to 127*c then after that if you touch the throttle then it carrys on shooting up, the expansion tank stinks of exhaust fumes, so obviously some compression getting into the cooling system.

its a crack in the head it has to be everything that been said points to it, including notifacation of the re-map as it dosent just put extra power and torque into the equation the extra stresses on cooling and so on are massive, so the car is now running an extra 35%-40% on standard.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Sep 2011 12:31
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - midnightblue

Hi CalgonUK I bouight a 2001 golf gt tdi and drove it 400 miles home. It started over heating when I wuld over take or go above 75mph. I had to stop evry hour fill with water nightmare journey home.

Now I want to try and sort this out the garages in my are are advising to change this and that. I think its the head gasket. But where is the water going because no leaks were detected. Can you tell me how you have got on? Have you fixed it? my contact 07900 214387 or e mail is aliz121@hotmail.com would be usefull to seek your advise for me on what to do next. Thank you

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Sep 2011 17:02
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - madf

Out through the exhaust?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Sep 2011 21:02
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - midnightblue

Out through the exhaust?

Hi Mdf you are right thats what i was told today. Would a new head gascet solve this? I am worried what if its the engine block then spending money on a new head will go to waste

Go not know what to do shall I scrap or fix?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 30 Sep 2011 16:55
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - midnightblue

Hi Galgonuk I have just bought a 51 plate vw gt tdi. And it has exactly the same problem loosing water and over heating on motorway when I over take. Any advsie on how you resolved will be much apreciated

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 5 Oct 2011 17:29
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - CalgonUK

rigth after a month of it being on the ramps, got the head gasket replaced, had the head skimmed and preassure tested which came up with no crack which was perfect put it all together agian and the car runs like new.

so if your car runs fine then when your floor it then it over heats then theres compression getting into the cooling system.

best way to tell this is after it decideds to overheat stop the car immediatly, pop the bonnet, slowly remove the expansion tank cap (so u dont burn your self), if it smells like exhaust fumes then you have yourself a knackered head gasket. then get towed to your nearest trust worthy garage, to cancel the risk of further damaging the engine/ warping the head.

in all it will take about 10.5 hrs labour, a mate of mine managed to do it for £580 all in.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 5 Oct 2011 17:37
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - CalgonUK

if any one has a pd 150 and the engine sounds like a bag of spanners, then the cam shaft bearings have gone.

all the vw pd gt tdi engines are very complex and unlike any other head ive seen.

if you find a lack of power and you mechanic diagnoses a faulty injector, then its ONLY a vw part you cant get one anywhere else, each 1 costs £400 + VAT.

if any one has a problem with the mk4 tdi engines please feel free to pm me/ email me. or get yourself on to, uk-mkivs.net/ or edition38.com/forums, for more information / help.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 6 Oct 2011 20:21
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - midnightblue

Hi Calgon thanks for the advice. I have just replaced the head and it drives perfect now it does not over heat any more. The mechanic charged me £400 I was present when they removed the head! The cylnder block was un even so it got skimmed and a new head gascet was placed on top. There is a wee bit oil leaking from somewhere but the garrage said they will see to it tomorow.

The cars turbo cuts off on motorways after going over 80mph so thats going to be my next job! This car is going to make me bankrupt soon

I will update you on my wv golt gt tdi

By the way I think my car is a 2001 vw golf gt tdi 115 pd but how could i confirm this

regards

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 7 Oct 2011 09:09
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Peter D

I think you mean the head was skimmed and re-fitted with a new gasket set. You can not buy a new head for that money. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 7 Oct 2011 10:28
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - madf

The cars turbo cuts off on motorways after going over 80mph so thats going to be my next job! This car is going to make me bankrupt soon

I will update you on my wv golt gt tdi

By the way I think my car is a 2001 vw golf gt tdi 115 pd but how could i confirm this

regards

I know a simple free solution to that which will save you money and your license:-)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 7 Oct 2011 11:19
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - Peter D

Engine code on the ID LAbel in the spare wheel bay. Sounds like overboost, probably a duff pressure sensor. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 29 Oct 2011 14:01
VW Golf GT TDi 115 PD 2001 - Overheating - midnightblue

Hi Peter

You was right it is a preassure sensor thats what it said on the mechanics labtob when he wired it up to the car. But he is not sure which sensor he has already changed the MAF the sensor which is attched to the manifold. Would you please tell me which preassure sensor you was refering to in your last post as this would resolve the problem with the turbo. just to recap you after going on motorway after 30 miles or so the turbo cuts off goes into limp mode but its ok doing local journeys.

regards

Reply | Report as offensive | Link