Please help!

 

My 2014 Polo 1.4 SE overheats after driving between 10-12 miles.  To bring the temperature gauge back to 90 I have to put the fan up to full and the temperature up to full.  The heat coming into the car is so hot I have to drive with the windows down to let it out.

 

The VW dealer had it in for its second service last week and the diagnostic check showed no faults, so they couldn't do any warranty repairs.  Its now going back next week to have a new water pump fitted.  But I'm thinking its something else with em having to operate the fan on full heat and speed to get the gauge back to normal running temperature.

 

I've read on other forums and posts that the fan switch could be at fault.  Has anyone experienced the same thing in their Polo?

 

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

As the heater is working OK, I very much doubt that the water (coolant) pump is at fault, if it was, there is a good chance that coolant would not get round to the heater matrix.

The radiator fan does not 'cut in' until the temperature gets well above the normal 90°c but should certainly have done so by the time that the car gets as hot as you describe.

You would normally find that the fan will only 'cut in' when the engine has been idling for  quite a while (maybe in a traffic hold-up.)

The main question is, why is the engine overheating in the first place?

If the car is driving as normal when the temperature is below 90°, it is likely that the ignition timing and the fuel mixture (either of which can cause the temperature to rise if they are incorrect) are as they should be.

I suspect that the thermostat may not be opening/opening fully, but it is just  possible that there is a blockage in the radiator, or even that there is an obstruction to air flowing over the radiator.

I would recommend that you do not use the car until the problem has been corrected, as there is a definite risk of causing damage to the engine itself through metal distortion or even seizure.

 

Regards

 

If its under warranty bring it back again mate. That's a serious problem and could ruin your engine. Let them see the temperature rising above 90 and then tell you there's nothing wrong. Otherwise your warranty is going to expire and you'll be left with the bill when it does go wrong. Could there be something blocking cold air getting through to the rad when you are driving?