Overheating problem

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carolinebrown12

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Hi to everyone, I hope you may be able to help me with this.

I own a 2001 Freelander S 1.8 petrol two-door which is regularly checked beneath the bonnet. Two weeks ago it boiled dry on a short drive of 5 miles. I got the vehicle home and filled it with water. A mechanic friend looked at the car and reckoned the heater matrix was leaking. However since then, I've had no further problems and the water level remains constant in the expansion tank. If the matrix IS leaking, then wouldn't there be water inside the car in the footwell? The car is dry inside.

Can anyone offer a clue as what the problem is please? Many thanks
 

joey

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I would say more than likely the Thermostat stuck.
 

sandman

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look underneath the dash board on the pasenger side where the fan is. there is a sticker on it.

if it is pink or green from a coolant stain then it needs to be replaced.

plus if it boiled out it could have an issue with a head gaskets.

1.8L arent the best engine.
 

LandySA

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LOL Hi to everyone. I know this is a far out dated issue. I would like to give some information for future use for people looking for a solution to this type of issue. We here in the out back in South Africa, improvise to needs as we don't have always access to either dealerships or specialist regarding motor vehicles. Overheating is a common cause on a 1.8l but I have found through out different versions or makes and models, solutions are not easily to come by. Its always this argument facing "purchase new or only dealerships can only help you"!!!??? I call them "new parts fitters". Well I could be of some help but I do not take responsibility from any of the following. I improvise as needed and if it works i'm happy. Here goes;
Its advisable to rather to keep a thermostat in your engine. Now there are ways to overcome overheating one could change your plumbing or remove thermo oh boy there is numerous options. One of which I would like to offer is the thermostat itself. The thermostat opens when hot and closes when cold. Everyone knows that, right? Well what I also do to help this action, is drilling holes. Yep I take a 1mm drill point and drill a hole on the face plate. I install it test it and if still overheating, I drill another. However! I also need operating temperature. so drilling many more holes like 4 or more, you might as well remove the thermostat completely. What happens here? The fluid gets pumped when thermostat is open and circulates through to the radiator to cool. Now if I have some holes in then water circulates slowly when thermostat is cold, and I still have normal operating temp. The advantage is if there is air blocked inside the motor, it will now be removed and also I don't have extreme pressure build up, that is to say if your filler bottle cap is in good working condition. It will bypass the thermo and leak out the cap. Next the matrix. Well normally, the heater matrix is hidden inside a plastic bucket (sorry for the pun). From the bucket is a rubber hose which leads to the outside from the bottom of the bucket through the wall facial. When standing in front of the vehicle facing the engine, you can identify the pipe looking down at the rear behind the gearbox. Any leaks from the matrix will be dispersed out under the vehicle. You wont get a water leak inside the cabin on the carpet. unless your bucket has a crack or hole. I will now lift the vehicle and with a air hose and attached long pipe I will blow through this rubber hose back into the matrix bucket. This will make sure there ai'nt any blockage of some sort. Now all of which I know that the motor is in tip top condition. All plumbing works are secure and no cracks or whatsoever. Next I will if I have an aircon, make sure its working fine and that the ac gas is filled correctly. I will also want to be sure that the temp gauge is working correctly, and that the fan motors operate correctly. The rest is history. I have been driving a LR Freelander 1.8l from new 2000 and have never experienced overheating ever. What I did once, was removed the water pump just to clean residue build up and check. I also rinsed and clean the plumbing often. The odometer reads above 900000 somewhere and not once ever had these issues.
Hope this helps....
 

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