VT heater stopped working??

[pl0x]

On my way to work this morning heater was working fine, then suddenly it stopped and went cold?
then got to work and some steam was coming out around the left side of the radiator didnt have time to remove any covers or anything to have a look
was going to wait till it cools and check water levels etc

Edit: Just checked coolant level and from i can tell is fine, (assuming the holes in the dipstick are meant to be how to read it)
Temp gauge was just under half the whole time
Any ideas??

[wetwork65]

Air trapped in cooling system? Try bleeding the air out?
Thinking about this one - the temp gauge would be swinging around if there was much air in the system.
How about the thermostat?
Then things get harder and more expensive!

How is the old (beautiful) country? I'm starting to miss the place since moving here some time ago. This mining lark is a bastard - can't get paid the same in NZ (or Sydney).

[pl0x]

i went out at lunch yesterday and filled up the radaitor as i couldnt see any water in there, took 5 750ml pump bottles before the water/coolant started leaking onto the ground.
Did a headgasket check but was fine so was lucky in that sense
Got a new radaitor on the way as i think i cracked it?
Anyone got any ideas why?

[accentstencil]

The side tanks on the radiator are made of plastic and therefore they deteriorate after years of use.

[pl0x]

The side tanks on the radiator are made of plastic and therefore they deteriorate after years of use.

mhm looked like it was leaking from the middle so could this still be the case? i didnt check wear it was leaking from so it could have dribbled down something to the middle then dropd, it was sreaming from one of the sides

[accentstencil]

mhm looked like it was leaking from the middle so could this still be the case? i didnt check wear it was leaking from so it could have dribbled down something to the middle then dropd, it was sreaming from one of the sides

The radiator core is made of aluminium and if you do not use the correct coolant and in the correct proportion it will greatly reduce the life of the radiator as well. That is why it is very important to use a coolant which meets the specifications of your engine. It is not cheap but it will save you money in the long run.

[Philywilly]

Same deal with my VT wagon, (v6) temp needle was all over the place so changed the thermostat. that problem was solved, although still have problem of smelly heater and the windscreen fogging. all this and its not blowing hot air. do you think it could be the heater core? or maybe just the seals? i cannot find any coolant leaking but i can hear the bubbling under the dash and the radiator needs topping up from time to time.

[wrx884]

Same deal with my VT wagon, (v6) temp needle was all over the place so changed the thermostat. that problem was solved, although still have problem of smelly heater and the windscreen fogging. all this and its not blowing hot air. do you think it could be the heater core? or maybe just the seals? i cannot find any coolant leaking but i can hear the bubbling under the dash and the radiator needs topping up from time to time.

sounds like heater core. mine didnt leak either unless wen i had the aircon on which it then leaked from the drain pipe near the gearbox.

[Philywilly]

Darn, so out comes the dash then... Cheers for your help.