Serious problem with VT

[Maddog7]

Hi there.

I have a '99 VT and in the past month or so it has had overheating problems. It seems to be losing water somewhere and I put about 2 litres in everyday (not enough). And recently it has gotten very bad. When I would drive 15 minutes to work there would be steam coming off one of the hoses.

On thursday I drove to work and towards the end of the trip it started making a funny noise when I put my foot down on the accelerator but only when I initially tap my foot on the accelerator, if I continue to hold my foot on the accelerator the noise seems to go away. It sort of sounds like a rattling noise.

So I continued driving and just as I pulled into a parking spot the engine shut off. I open my bonnet and there is white smoke/steam pretty much everywhere and the car wouldn't turn back on. So I went to work and came back to it later (10 or so hours later) and it started again, put some water in it and got home fine.

But then yesterday it did exactly the same thing (engine shut off, white steam etc.) Also I might mention the 'hot' light on the dashboard never flashed and the needle was about halfway.

Anyone know what the problem is? Have I "fried" my engine?

[Darcon666]

Well you definitely have a leak somewhere.

Check all hoses and for any cracks in the radiator.
Get some food coloring and put it in the water(It won't hurt you engine) start it and keep an eye on where it's coming from.

Good luck with it

[bogan_vk]

id say youve got a decent split in one of your hoses,theres a very good chance you will fry your engine if you keep driving it as is if it hasnt been already check for milky water in the radiator and on the dipstick incase youve done a headgasket or cracked a head and check all your hoses should be pretty easy to spot losing that much water.

[Clutchy]

Hi there.

I have a '99 VT and in the past month or so it has had overheating problems. It seems to be losing water somewhere and I put about 2 litres in everyday (not enough). And recently it has gotten very bad. When I would drive 15 minutes to work there would be steam coming off one of the hoses.

On thursday I drove to work and towards the end of the trip it started making a funny noise when I put my foot down on the accelerator but only when I initially tap my foot on the accelerator, if I continue to hold my foot on the accelerator the noise seems to go away. It sort of sounds like a rattling noise.

So I continued driving and just as I pulled into a parking spot the engine shut off. I open my bonnet and there is white smoke/steam pretty much everywhere and the car wouldn't turn back on. So I went to work and came back to it later (10 or so hours later) and it started again, put some water in it and got home fine.

But then yesterday it did exactly the same thing (engine shut off, white steam etc.) Also I might mention the 'hot' light on the dashboard never flashed and the needle was about halfway.

Anyone know what the problem is? Have I "fried" my engine?

Id say the hose that had the steam comin off it has a split in it and change it as for ya engine fair chance ya have cooked it but it still might go can I ask why you dident look for the leak or get it looked at b4 it got to bad ?as for sayin the temp gauge never got over half if the engine has no water in it then the temp gauge cant read hot as it has nothing to read off or maybe4 the sender unit is buggered.

[hsv vt s/charge]

On my vt i had a small split behind the intake manifold but right in front of the wall shaped like a banana. The hose got weak over time as there is a frair bit of pressure. I watched my temp move the slightest bit the wrong way pulled over an found the smallest amount of coolant dribbling onto my gearbox. Double check that hose it7 only cost $10 an it prevented me from potentially killin me car.

[hsv vt s/charge]

id say youve got a decent split in one of your hoses,theres a very good chance you will fry your engine if you keep driving it as is if it hasnt been already check for milky water in the radiator and on the dipstick incase youve done a headgasket or cracked a head and check all your hoses should be pretty easy to spot losing that much water.

Definately should be easy to locate...and make sure your not blowing steam out the exhaust...

[pauly88]

dude that happened exactly the same with my car yesterday, it was making clicking noises when i was accelarating and the engine smoked up, it turned out that the headgasket is gone, done some serious damage ....white smoke was coming out the exchaust aswell and the engine shook heaps. theres was air in the engine where the water goes thats what caused the problem overheated.

[curtcommy]

same happen to my vt, tapping noise came from under bonnet, car smoked, then cut out, turns out head had blown.

[Claudy]

Or valley cover gaskets, those bolts always get lose

[hsv vt s/charge]

A lot of ppl (mostly dumb c***s) forget that after replacing or draing that you have to bleed the air out of that small valve located somewhare on the out house of radiator. "Oh, thats what that is". I dont know how many times ive heard that.

[gogi108]

2 ltrs is a dam lot of water , probably head gasket at the best . if it was being lost externally it would be pretty hard to miss . get it to a mechanic asap .