Overheating - urgent help needed
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Glasgow / Isle of Man
Overheating - urgent help needed
Hi all,
Currently stuck in Germany with an overheating 970.2014 Pana.
Have driven over to Munich from Glasgow, then up to Mannheim the car has run without fault. It has been parked in an underground car park in between runs.
Today, had to go to a meeting, car parked outside for 3 hours, 22⁰ but very clammy, left the office and within 5 mins I get "engine overheat, park up to cool"
Issue is, non of the dials are reading too hot, or not registering as really hot.
Coolant : 90⁰
Oil : fluctuating between 72 and 86⁰
Oil Pressure : 2.3 bar at idle
I've topped up the oil to max, and filled the coolant to max.
Car is effectively in limp mode.
Any ideas?
Cheers in advance, Dougie
Currently stuck in Germany with an overheating 970.2014 Pana.
Have driven over to Munich from Glasgow, then up to Mannheim the car has run without fault. It has been parked in an underground car park in between runs.
Today, had to go to a meeting, car parked outside for 3 hours, 22⁰ but very clammy, left the office and within 5 mins I get "engine overheat, park up to cool"
Issue is, non of the dials are reading too hot, or not registering as really hot.
Coolant : 90⁰
Oil : fluctuating between 72 and 86⁰
Oil Pressure : 2.3 bar at idle
I've topped up the oil to max, and filled the coolant to max.
Car is effectively in limp mode.
Any ideas?
Cheers in advance, Dougie
Last edited by Dougie Toal; Jun 20, 2024 at 11:15 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
My guess would be that it thinks there is air in the cooling system, but I can imagine other things causing this too, such as a bad sensor or maybe a fan that isn't running.
Stuff to check:
Do the cooling fans spin freely with the car shut off? Be sure it's cold before you reach in there - they can come on without warning if the engine is hot, even if the car is shut off.
Do the fans run if you start the engine and immediately turn on the air conditioning to max?
Check for coolant leaks - what you're looking for, aside from liquid coolant, is a white residue, most likely with a vaguely pinkish tint.
Try the coolant air bleed procedure - basically, remove the expansion tank cap, open the air bleed valve (under the cover surrounding the cap), start the engine, put it in sport mode, with the cabin heat on, and let the engine idle, occasionally racing it up to about 3500 rpm, until the fans turn on.
If you haven't had work done on the cooling system recently, but you've got air in there, you most likely have a coolant leak, and you should address that ASAP.
Stuff to check:
Do the cooling fans spin freely with the car shut off? Be sure it's cold before you reach in there - they can come on without warning if the engine is hot, even if the car is shut off.
Do the fans run if you start the engine and immediately turn on the air conditioning to max?
Check for coolant leaks - what you're looking for, aside from liquid coolant, is a white residue, most likely with a vaguely pinkish tint.
Try the coolant air bleed procedure - basically, remove the expansion tank cap, open the air bleed valve (under the cover surrounding the cap), start the engine, put it in sport mode, with the cabin heat on, and let the engine idle, occasionally racing it up to about 3500 rpm, until the fans turn on.
If you haven't had work done on the cooling system recently, but you've got air in there, you most likely have a coolant leak, and you should address that ASAP.
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Glasgow / Isle of Man
Update
Thanks MR2 for your insight.
There was nothing I could do to get it to stop coming on. I guessed if I could get enough airflow into the engine bay then it might help, otherwise it was on a towtruck back to Scotland.
Found a bit of Autoban that had roadworks across 2 junctions as I was struggling to get to 70 kph and that would be ok on that stretch of road. Chugged along in limp and thought it was the towtruck option and then suddenly it opened up and off it went.
Drove the 900 or so miles back without incident save a few brief flashes of the light on and off.
Guess it's a sensor fault, will get it in to get checked!
Appreciate the help though!
Dougie
There was nothing I could do to get it to stop coming on. I guessed if I could get enough airflow into the engine bay then it might help, otherwise it was on a towtruck back to Scotland.
Found a bit of Autoban that had roadworks across 2 junctions as I was struggling to get to 70 kph and that would be ok on that stretch of road. Chugged along in limp and thought it was the towtruck option and then suddenly it opened up and off it went.
Drove the 900 or so miles back without incident save a few brief flashes of the light on and off.
Guess it's a sensor fault, will get it in to get checked!
Appreciate the help though!
Dougie
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Glasgow / Isle of Man
Update, help still.needed
Hi all,
The overheat warning light still persists. To be clear, the car is not overheating, but the light comes on after about 2 mins of the first start of the day and goes into limp mode.
Once I get above 40 mph, engine returns to normal and although the warning light flicks on and off intermittently, it doesn't affect the performance.
Clearly a issue with a senso, anyone encountered this before?
Thanks,
Dougie
The overheat warning light still persists. To be clear, the car is not overheating, but the light comes on after about 2 mins of the first start of the day and goes into limp mode.
Once I get above 40 mph, engine returns to normal and although the warning light flicks on and off intermittently, it doesn't affect the performance.
Clearly a issue with a senso, anyone encountered this before?
Thanks,
Dougie
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 3,111
From: linker Fahrbahn
10 year old car, time to start throwing parts at it.
Listed in approximate order from cheapest/easiest to most expensive/difficult:
Thermostat
coolant temp sensor(s)
shutoff/diverter valve if present
Coolant pump drive belt
coolant pump
radiator
Listed in approximate order from cheapest/easiest to most expensive/difficult:
Thermostat
coolant temp sensor(s)
shutoff/diverter valve if present
Coolant pump drive belt
coolant pump
radiator
Last edited by chassis; Jul 6, 2024 at 07:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Glasgow / Isle of Man
the only one on your list that would make sense to me is the coolant temp sensor as I would imagine any of the others failing would actually cause overheating??
Any idea where I can find the coolant temp sensor?
Cheers,
Dougie
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 7,492
Likes: 3,111
From: linker Fahrbahn
