Please Help : Car shuts off while driving or in traffic!?

r4y007 · Post by **r4y007** » Mon May 28, 2007 4:42 pm

Unfortunately I have little idea where the bleed valves are? Is there some screw underneath the radiator to let the coolant/water out then refill it? I haven't got round to checking if the fan actually kicks in or doesn't but am sure it's not working properly!
I can't take it back to the garage as the guy charged me an extra £40 from the price he said so I gave him a bit of a telling off (unusual for mechanic to be untruthful hmm)
The problems happened a few times now and almost always when the engines heated up to around 90 then shortly after shuts off (is shut off normal with this problem?) after 15 minutes re-starts fine.
Got it booked into a garage on friday but pretty sure know what the problem is so can advise accordingly.

Thanks for replies.

r4y007 · Post by **r4y007** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:41 pm

mjb wrote:I'd say you may have an air pocket in your cooling system as other diesel owners say their cars apparently never get hot?!? Also when doing speed, the temperature really should be low.

Wait until the engine's cold (v. important!), fill up your coolant reservoir leaving the lid off, then go hunt for your bleed valves!

I wouldn't do that though until you've worked out why the fans are killing the car - you'll need to get the temperature high to test it. It sounds like they've screwed either the fans or (more likely) a relay or wiring connector while they were replacing your radiator. In the first instance I'd suggest going back to the garage and asking them to check their work!

I've now noticed that the car does get hot pretty quick (unless its the weather!) and shortly after its reached 90+ it cuts out, also I have checked the fan while the temp is near the 90 mark and it does not come on! Hopefully thats the problem (seems logical) Obviously they didn't know what they were doing and probably did not plug in the fan or something like that! I've got it booked into a garage tomorow but already told the guy that its the fan so hopefully he can just get that sorted and that should sort out the car!

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:06 pm

Tell them you want to SEE the fan working before they refill+bleed the coolant system! Otherwise they could charge you for a load of work when really they do nothing and just hide the problem.

r4y007 · Post by **r4y007** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:25 pm

Hey Guys,

I took it to a garage and we let the engine get hot & the fan does come on! The guy said its not todo with the fan or the radiator but something about the fuel not getting through and therefore the engine cuts out. Worse thing (or good thing) is that its an intermitten problem so happens now and then, which makes it difficult to find, could be the fuel pump or something with the ignition system or anything, might just put up with the problem as I got a feeling whatever it is it won't be found for a while and after many invoices!

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:26 pm

thats hilarious, you take your car to a garage, they know its a diesel, yet they tell you there could be a problem with the ignition system

whatever next

r4y007 · Post by **r4y007** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:31 pm

I take it diesels do not have an ignition system as such? Maybe that means its the fuel pump?
I think might just buy a new car lol

jameslxdt · Post by **jameslxdt** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:45 pm

nope, hence why diesels are sometimes refferd to as compression ignition, as its the extremley hot air that is compressed that ignites the diesel, it has to be a loss of fuel for whatever reason that is causing it to die