MK5 SEAT Ibiza heating issue

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

Jamesyboyjim

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Hi all, drove to work today in the miserable rain and with the ac on quite low felt a little chilly, decided to try and put some warm on, hmm, just cold air still... Engine had been on sufficient amount of time to be warmed up so I cranked the heating and fans to max but only blew cold air for my whole 15 mile commute.

I parked up at work and left the engine and heating running to see if it would warm up without the car moving as my last car had a failed thermostat that was stuck open but it continued to blow cold.

Any ideas what i can check first? I'm hoping its not going to be expensive!
 
Sounds like the thermostat to me. Doesn't sound like it's ever closing so the loop is being consistently cooled.

I had a similar problem with my Seat Leon Cupra R back in the day, new thermostat and housing sorted it (had a bad seal).
 
paradigm said:
Sounds like the thermostat to me. Doesn't sound like it's ever closing so the loop is being consistently cooled.

I had a similar problem with my Seat Leon Cupra R back in the day, new thermostat and housing sorted it (had a bad seal).
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If thats the case that would mean 100% of my cars have had failed thermostats :rolleyes:

When my previous cars thermostat was stuck open the car would heat up when idle but cool down again when moving, I left my Ibiza to idle to test this out and it didn't warm up but maybe I didn't leave it long enough. its annoying on the Ibiza's they don't have a temp gauge in the car so I cant see if the engine temp ever rises.
 
How's the fluid level in the radiator? If there's not enough in there then it can stop the heater from working.
 
Well, thought I'd go have a look on my lunch break, noticed the header tank looked emptier than it did earlier so took the cap off, noticed it practically empty and also noticed a lot of liquid quickly dripping out the bottom of the car (guessing i released the pressure).

Luckily there's a garage just across the road so its currently sat there while they have a look. Any ideas what it could be? The water pump is only a year old so that would be unlucky if that's failed. Awaiting the dreaded phone call...
 
Could be a simple leak, a hole in the rad, a split pipe, heck even just a loose jubilee clip. Could be a split thermostat housing assuming they are still cheaping out with plastic ones that go brittle.
 
Local garage (admittedly halfords) say its the waterpump. They want to change the cambelt and pump for £600. I said the belt and pump are only a year / 8,000 miles old. Can you not just change the pump, he said no he wont do just the water pump in case it puts the belt at risk. I think I'll have to top the car up with water and drive the 15 miles home sensibly and try and get a second opinion. what do you guys think?
 
Jamesyboyjim said:
Local garage (admittedly halfords) say its the waterpump. They want to change the cambelt and pump for £600. I said the belt and pump are only a year / 8,000 miles old. Can you not just change the pump, he said no he wont do just the water pump in case it puts the belt at risk. I think I'll have to top the car up with water and drive the 15 miles home sensibly and try and get a second opinion. what do you guys think?
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Top it up, get home and get searching for more reputable garages.
 
paradigm said:
Could be a simple leak, a hole in the rad, a split pipe, heck even just a loose jubilee clip. Could be a split thermostat housing assuming they are still cheaping out with plastic ones that go brittle.
Click to expand...

It was a plastic thermostat housing on my 1989 Golf, I doubt they've ever changed them
 
If it is indeed the water pump leaking then they are correct that you wouldn't change the pump without also changing the belt. You have the belt stripped off anyway so no point not replacing, especially after it's been contaminated with coolant.
 
What a day! Topped it right up with water and took it easy on the drive home. Got a few miles from home when I started to smell something hot, like hot plastic, immediately thought I need to stop so pulled over, engine off and hazards on. Opened the bonnet to be greeted with smoke.

Thankfully I'm pretty sure it was steam as that's what it looked and smelled like but I can't be 100%. Got the aa out who topped me right up again and I drove it to a local Indy who now have the car. Really hope I haven't cooked anything but I won't know until the garage have a look. They also confirmed as did the aa guy that it'll need a new belt.

Typically as it was only changed less than a year ago it should have been under warranty but the garage who fit it has closed down.
 
The ibiza has a couple of issues in the cooling department, not helped by the fact the mk5 has no coolant gauge.

1) The radiator will rub on its plastic housing eventually wearing a hole in it. Seat have fixed this is newer models.

2) If it's the 1.4 twin charger the water pump will go followed by a loud whine and loss of the super charger. Mine did this and started losing coolant, luckily fixed under warranty.

My advice would be speak to seat if it was replaced under warranty, as that bit should be covered for a year.
 
Yes not having a temp gauge on the way home meant I could have done some damage to the engine as I was relying on smell and vision to see if the engine was getting too hot! Wish I'd played it safe and just topped up with water every few miles.

As for the warranty on the parts, it was an Indy that did the work so seat won't be interested I'm sure.

It's just the standard 16v 1.4 petrol engine which has a good reputation as being reliable and simple, just a shame it's so slow!
 
Garage is saying new pump and belt on but the engine is not heating and failing a gas test? They say it's a head gasket problem and it'll need to be stripped etc and will cost at least 1200!! I said it's been fine and drove to the garage ok once it had more water but they are saying it's failing our gas test? Not entirely sure what that is. Gas either in the coolant tank or gasket?

He's going to leave the car to settle put some more water in and call me Monday after another look. It's hard to know what to believe when you aren't the most knowledgeable about cars. I'm in a state of shock right now as I don't know what to do
 
They will mean that they've done a sniff test (or similar) on the expansion tank and found it's got exhaust gasses present).

There's a distinct possibility you warped the head yesterday when driving it back home.
 
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