1.7TD Severe Overheating and Flat Battery

[bucky]

Within 2 or 3 minutes of starting up from cold this morning my temp gauge was showing 100*c.
my top radiator hose is red hot all the time and under a hell of a lot of pressure, the radiator is cold compared to it.
the expansion tank is flat cold all the time. i lightly unscrewed the top and it was under a shit loads of pressure and shot out.
also the gauge keeps going up and up past 100*c then the coolant light comes on then goes off as i let the engine idle.
im thinking along the lines of thermostat blocked.

dont know if it related or not but the battery is totally flat and i had to bump it off earlier when i stopped the engine to let it cool off.
the battery light comes on about 3 or 4 seconds after depressing the clutch and holding it down also when im stationary (basically when its idling).
could this be the alternator?

my engine has 130k on it and i changed the alt. belt due to it snapping about 3 months ago.
it has been sat in my drive for the past 2 months as i was disqualified but occasionally (day or 2) start engine up to keep it ok) which hasnt work very well.

thanks in advance

Bucky

[Raz]

I would do a block test first chap to establish if your head gasket is gone, if so then look into the cause of it.

If the top hose is hot but the rad isnt its possibly a blocked radiator.

[bucky]

thermostat was foooooked.
was stuck shut, removed it and did the warm water test and it never opened at all.
stuck a new one in and replaced all the coolant and its fine.


the flat batery problem was related to the neons i wired up, somewhere between the amp cable (live it took from it) and the switch it was earthing out permenatly so just for now i have disconnected my amp until i can be arsed to look further into it.

cheers for your help any way.

Bucky

[bucky]

update:
thromostat made a difference but its till happening so im gettign a water pump put on it for nowt at work, ive asked around and a few people have done them before so seems its slightly common on my engine.

Bucky

[Raz]

Id still do a block test chap just to eliminate the head gasket.

[bucky]

can you please explain to me exactly why it could be the headgasket???????

my No. 4 and No. 3 in jectors are bubbling slightly so they are getting new seals on them this week.
and im putting the water pump on wed night.

dont know if vauxhalls are prone or anything but in the 2 years i have worked for Ford i haventy seen a single headgasket gone on any vehicle.........

by block test you mean compression test???

[Raz]

No i mean block test.

Bit of kit that measures the gas coming through the coolant system, to much gasses in there indicates the head gasket is on the way out.

When are car is overheating like yours its always a precaution at VAUXHALL to check the head gasket, as severe overheating causes gasket failure.

Im not saying IT IS the head gasket, im saying check it for peace of mind.

[bucky]

its still knackering my battery.
ive been told my the local motor world that the alternator is ****ed, summat to do with the voltage regulator on it and needs reconing or new.