1.3 Cooling problem, advice needed!

Hi guys its my first post on here so be kind..

A newbie to vw's but have always worked on classic cars etc..

After buying my first MK1 golf I drove it straight home (15 minute drive) when I pulled into the drive I lifted the bonnet as I heard a squeaking but it turned out that the radiator was smoking and the fan was working overtime!

Once the engine had cooled I opened the cap to notice that the radiator was empty and the inside was covered in a rusty residue, the previous owner said that it might need an expansion tank as it runs hot regularly.

The car was originally a 1.1 but the bottom end was changed to 1.3, not sure if this makes a difference?

PLEASE HELP

to start with flush out the system, then refill and see how it is. if it keeps doing it consider changing the rad!  make sure the cap is secure, its worth buying a new blue cap for it as they're cheap and can go wrong.

when you fill it and bleed check the radiator once the thermostat opens, make sure it gets warm all the way across. if it has cool spots then it could have a blockage. also if waterpump hasn't been done for a while then maybe its starting to pack up

http://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14913

rubjonny said

to start with flush out the system, then refill and see how it is. if it keeps doing it consider changing the rad!  make sure the cap is secure, its worth buying a new blue cap for it as they're cheap and can go wrong.

when you fill it and bleed check the radiator once the thermostat opens, make sure it gets warm all the way across. if it has cool spots then it could have a blockage. also if waterpump hasn't been done for a while then maybe its starting to pack up

http://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14913

Hi there thanks for the reply I have flushed out the system just with a hose (no radflush etc..) and took the car for a long drive, the needle rises to the half way mark and fluctuates between there and the HOT mark where the light would come on, is this normal for these engines?

no it should stay at the halfway mark, maybe slightly over. if it gets in the hot mark something isnt right

itmight be the wiring to the temp sender is earthign out somewhere, or the sensor itself has gone. look at the red/yellow wire, the dash one is the black sensor in one of the coolang flanges/pipes somewhere