UK Car Repair: 1.4 astra 1994, fuse switch, going in the right direction

Question
QUESTION: my astra has just started to over heat,the temp climbs straight into the red ,no leaks or any other faults, i think its a 1.4 i 1994 L , WHAT COULD THIS BE. THANKS

ANSWER: Is it overheating or is it just the gauge?  Do you hear the electric fan working?  let me know. It could be a faulty fan or a stuck closed thermostat.

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QUESTION: thanks ever so much ,we going to try the thermostat,is this placed behind the timing wheel/belt,do you know?the fan works direct from the battery but doesent kick in as it should ,the engine overheats just left tickin over ,after about 10 mins,are we going in the right direction?

Answer
Before you do the thermostat you need to get the electric fan operating.  This is essential for cooling the engine, Once that is done if you still have an overheating issue you can then check the thermostat. In fact you can test the ststem by leaving the fan on as you did and run the engine! The fan circuit can be rather complicated via sensors, many people add a direct feed to the fan via a fuse & switch.