Tempreture Warning Indicator

Possibly a bad thermostat and/or water pump (maybe even a loose belt for the water pump).

If it's anything like the engine here in the USA then the waterpump runs of the timing belt. But we have seen the waterpump impeller do the issue you have. The impeller cracks and slips on the drive.

It may happen if you added too much water to your coolant. Water evaporates and creates an air bubble. The air does not flow like coolant.

1. Your coolant is dirty and plugs the thermostat! Replace the coolant.

snipped-for-privacy@shaw.ca

I recently replaced a Polo water pump. The VW water pump that was fitted has a plastic impeller and this had cracked. On removing the water pump I found the remains of another waterpump impeller. The replacement waterpump which came from Europarts has a brass coloured metal impeller. One of the symptoms I had prior to overheating was very little heat output from the heater inside the car.

Sorry, I don't agree with your statement considering coolant is 50-60% water.

There is a known problem with the cooling fans in the Golf. Take a look a this thread.

Baz

Try this

With the engine quite warm open the coolant cap.

Still run the engine untill hot.

Put gloves on and squeeze the top radiator hose several times.

If you had an air bubble the level of your coolant will come down - meaning air is out.

Ps

I had the same symptoms and now I add 100% glycol + max 200ml water.

It is nice for winter because the car warms up right away

How many miles since you changed the water pump (and timing belt, for that matter)? Do you see any signs of water pump leaks? Easiest thing to try first may be replacing the thermostat.

Taken to a main vw dealer this morning.

Leak in the water pump, which has contaminated the cam belt. Also there is a propeller on the back on the water pump which the cam belt drives to circulate coolant round the engine - that isn't working. So when the engine is under load (accelerating up hill or above 50mph) it cant pump the coolant round the engine - hence the over heating.

Bad news - 4 1/2 job with parts etc etc £510 which I managed to get VW UK Customer Service to pay £120 - Car not under warranty (ran out in June)

I'm not a happy bunny !!

Steve

A lot of money, certainly. But less than a new engine. I guess you'll be sure now to change both water pump and timing belt at the same time.

You must not have looked under the hood or you would have seen the red coolant splatter. The red VW coolant is very noticable when it leaks.

Consider yourself lucky and too bad about the warranty running out in June.

I replaced my thermostat around 130K miles and the water pump was still good but I decided to replace it anyway. $44 dollar german water pump brand new with the housing included. A few days later I noticed red coolant under the water pump by a breathing hole. I guess the teflon seal was bad but sure enough it was new and leaking. I called up the place I got it from and they sent a replacement. This time the job was easier than the first time around.

Total cost was the price of the water pump, the thermostat price and time.

The most cost was my time. However since it was on a weekend. It didn't cost me money. :)