I'm having a NIGHTMARE overheating

Arghhh bought my frst golf and can't get her through the MOT keeping hit bricks walls. I'm not a mechanic but my friend i and he says he needs to look in to it. The car is over heating and the fan isn't kicking in. Any advise?
Cheers
Iain

Thermo switch on bottom of rad, bridge that to see if fan comes on.

if you bridge the switch like brad said and it come on

then i would have a look at the stat in the bottom of the pump not allowin water through to the rad

Just noticed some of the wires have been cut, probably my answer right there. You think its worth getting a new gasket to be safe?

Iain

what gasket?

Head gasket if its over heating...

course not

when you've tried other things out, sorted them wire,
checked the fans working, checked the stat, flushed the system

head gasket is the last resort

No point making work mate. Sort the wires which are I'm guessing to the thermo of fan motor? If it runs turn it on and look in expansion tank see if water is trickling in and also check hoses to/from rad to see if water is hot both sides. Eliminating water pump and thermostat I believe.

Thermo switch is common though.

Yeah that's the plan just been waiting for it to cool down. Propbably won't gt round to it now till tomorrow or tuesday. Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Iain