QuestionMy vw Jetta's temp light came on recently, however the guage indicated a normal temperature. I topped off the coolant (it needed it) and the temp light went off. Not too long after, the light came on again and when I checked, the coolant levels were low again. So...I assume I must have a slow leak somewhere in the system and sure enough, I parked on concrete and noticed some leakage. Being way too low on funds to have it fixed right away, I just kept making sure that the fluid levels were okay before I drove it.
THEN...one day (a very hot day) I pulled up to my office and idled in the parking lot while I finished a phone call. I noticed that the A/C was faltering and when I looked at the temp guage it seemed fine, but the light was on. So I let the engine cool and topped off the fluids again. The light went off but the A/C still would not work. Later, while driving, it just magically kicked on again. Hmmmm....
THEN...one day while driving quite a distance, the temp gauge started to climb and the light came on. I was driving up a hill so I quickly shut off the A/C and rolled down the windows. The gauge continued to climb to nearly the top and so I thought, I'd better turn on the heater until I can pull over. When I turned the heater on....no heat! It was just regular air, the heat wouldn't come on. Then later on the way home, the temp gauge seemed high, the heater wouldn't come on and suddenly, about 35 miles into the drive home the needle dropped abruptly to the normal mark and the heater kicked on.
THEN...the other day I had to drive sixty miles in over 100 degree weather. I made sure I checked the fluids and that the levels were ducky. I headed off...A/C on most of the way. I kept my eye on the temp and it was sitting tight at the half way mark as usual. Then, about 50 miles into the drive and after quite an incline, the temp gauge just suddenly shot all the way up to the top, the oil light came on and the car shut off. I pulled over and looked under the hood to check. Like an idiot, I had forgotten to replace the top to the resevoir tank where I had added the coolant before leaving. Fluid was everywhere. I let the engine cool all the way off, replaced the lost coolant and drove home, the temp gauge staying happily at the half way mark. BUT...when I drive I am still smelling that musty water smell that you smell when an engine overheats, however I don't see any fluid anywhere when I check it. The temp light now stays on perpetually, even when all fluids are topped off.
My question is this: Do you think that I have a leak somewhere and that I'm just smelling that musty smell as a residual leftover odor from all that fluid spraying around under there? Or do you think that something else is really wrong with my adorable little blue Jetta?
I'm sorry to go on and on...but I used to ask my Dad these things and he died suddenly last year and I don't have anyone to ask now! I want to get an educated guess before I go to a mechanic.
Thanks so much!
Melanee
AnswerMelanee, thank you for your question. First the smell you are smelling, is from the coolant. There is no short answer for this problem. And yes, it is trying to tell you that there is a problem. This problem sounds like you have a leak somewhere in the system (probably in one of the hoses) plus a temp sensor and thermostat going out or has failed. Additionally, there maybe also be a problem with the water pump and the radiator is plugged in one or more of the tiers of the core (these or the holes you see in radiator when you take the radiator cap off). There may also be a problem with one or both of the fans not spinning or coming one when the temperature reaches 180+. When someone does the repair work it is a good idea to replace both radiator hoses because of the overheating (the hoses are probably overstressed and will blow). Also have them replace the transmission fluid and have both transmission and cooling systems flushed. Otherwise sometime within the next two years, your transmission will fail. This happened to me in 2001 with radiator (actually the water pump failed dramatically) and then the transmission in 2003. The cost of a transmission runs between 1500 to 3000, no joke (some Ford SUV transmission go for 5,000). Additionally, during the repair work the oil should be changed. Just for future knowledge, the antifreeze should be checked every six months (usually in the spring and again in the fall) with bulb type coolant tester (http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/the106.html) (available at most auto parts stores for under $20) and flushed every year or two. This level of checking is almost mandatory in Texas and Arizona due to the hot summers!
hope that helps
