Engine troubles

[mathewsant]

Hi guys. I'm new to all these forums, but I could do with some advice from someone who understands all things Scirocco!

I have what I believe to be one of the best, original Mk2 Scirocco GTII's on the road, but it has been causing me some problems recently.I'm desperate to get it back on the road so that I can make it to the National Meet in August.

I'll try and keep this is short as possible! Basically, about 12 months ago, I was driving along and the engine started to overheat (it went all the way to the red). So I had to make may way home slowly, stopping every mile or so to let then engine cool down. A friend of mine who knows a thing or 2 about cars said I needed a new thermostat, which I had fitted immediately, and things seemed to be ok.

Since then I've been having a couple of problems - firstly the car doesn't seem to want to stop running when I turn it off when not totally warmed up. The only way is to keep driving it until it is warmed up, and then try and turn it off.

Then, not log after, the car seemed to rev very high when the engine was cold - up to 4,000+ revs. This is a little embarrassing when driving through town given it has a stainless steel exhaust!

Anyway, not long after this, I was about 10 miles from home when the engine overheated again. This was about 4 months ago, and I have not used it since.

This seems quite strange given the thermostat had recently been changed.

Sorry - I know this is a little long, but wanted to give all the information incase it helps diagnose the problem?

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I'm assuming the problems turning it off and the high revs are to do with the carb? But I have no idea why it would be overheating again?

Cheers

Mat

[GTXTRA]

Add a location - there could be a local fellow owner on here who could help diagnose.

[mathewsant]

Good thinking....I'm in Cowbridge, South Wales

[mr.brown]

Is there adequate coolant in the car - is the level in the expansion tank OK?

Is the car actually overheating or is the gauge/sender faulty. The easiest way to do this is just to run the engine at idle and let it heat up gradually - does the gauge needle move smoothly or does it jump straight to high?

Feel the top and bottom hoses whilst doing this - the bottom should stay cold initially until the thermostat opens up. If the thermostat is faulty the bottom hose will not heat up fully.

When the temp gauge is at 3/4 or so the radiator fan should kick in. Does it? If not, it's a faulty fan or (more likely) a faulty rad fan thermoswitch.

[DannyH]

Is it a black radiator cap?

i had horrendous problems with one.

Even if it;s a blue one might be worth changing?

[scrumpyone]

Second the radiator cap, I had the same issues.

Also on the high revs, is it a Pooberg carb by any chance?

[marcus]

If it's running on when you turn the ignition off, check the spark plugs aren't furred up with carbon deposits.

[mathewsant]

Thanks guys - really appreciate all the responses!

[hiltow]

Second the checking of your sparkplugs at this stage. From what you're describing it sounds like you have a carburettor issue leading to a possible over-rich fuel mixture. Although it could be a separate problem to the overheating, it is something that would cause it, so you need to eliminate this first. Black, sooty plug tips will be the giveaway.