overheating..

[lumina01]

this morning when i left for work car started 2 overheat on the freeway, pulled over it went down took off again same thing then nothing.
left work started again slowly, took my foot off (wasnt over reving it either) and it went down 2 normal and didnt move.
any ideas? thanks

[JD]

i'd say your thermostats playing up, and is your coolant level low cos that would shoot it up if you didnt have any.
one more thing did your fan kick in?

[JD]

thermostat would need to be replaced.
if it stuck closed like yours sounds like it is the it will cause it to overheat.
the thermostat controls your car operating temprature.

[lumina01]

come 2 think of it i just drove bak from the city not long ago and the temp was rising at a red light, drove off and it was fine mayb the fans arnt kikin in.

[lumina01]

deleted my post by accident soz.

[lumina01]

any1 know at what stage is the second fan meant 2 kick in?

[myberlina]

The second fan kicks in at 100 degrees me thinks.

When was the last time you had your coolant replaced/flushed?

[lumina01]

well i got 1 fan kicking in at 104 degrees, and the second doesnt do anything.
cranked the aircon 2 full when i turn it off second fan spins acouple times then stoped.
coolent woulda been changed about 13 thausand k's ago.

[Harvs82]

well i got 1 fan kicking in at 104 degrees, and the second doesnt do anything.
cranked the aircon 2 full when i turn it off second fan spins acouple times then stoped.
coolent woulda been changed about 13 thausand k's ago.

The fan/fans coming on at 104 deg is perfectly normal, and it will go off when the coolant goes under 99 deg from memory. Sounds like a dodgy thermostat as others have mentioned, but also check that your water pump is working properly.

[lumina01]

wondering if theres a coolent over flow that makes it leak out from under the car if u've put 2 much in or have i got a leak?

[JD]

yes the vx's do have a overflow tank and if its just leaked then it should be evident. ( its on the left side of the engine bay )
if you cant see any leaks in the engine bay you may be up for a new radiator.

[lumina01]

any idea on how far up the dipstick the coolent should b? cheers

[WAGON MAN]

There are two triangles on the dipstick representing MAXIMUM and MINIMUM fluid levels.

When the engine is cold it should be at the Minimum mark and when engine is hot it should be a the Maximum mark.

[Bitz R Broken]

check if your bottom hose sucks in when you rev it, that may be blocking the water flow