Dash Board Warning Light

[Guest Russell1]

Ahhhh this is freaking me out now!

 

Have left a message for my neighbour just to check fuse and not to disconnect battery, went to v/m so fingers crossed he gets it, not the end of the world if i loose the radio, I mostly listen to cd's or mp3 in the car, this I can deal with in my own time.

 

Now where have I left the valium?

 

Caz

[paul.h]

If the radio does need to be recoded (should say in the car handbook) and you do not have the code then your dealer may be able to provide it or an auto electrician should be able to read the code from the radio - I had to do this once on a Saab. However, until the code is put back in, the radio will not work at all which means no cds in it either.

 

Make sure all the air is bled out of the coolant system and you are happy the engine thermostat is ok so opens to let coolant go to the radiator when the engine is hot and the temperature gauge is as normal in the past (try the hoses to the cabin heater to see if they are hot). However, the temperature sensor may be at fault, it is likely to be located on the cylinder head near the thermostat housing (I have not seen a Saxo engine but we have a 1.4 petrol C3 so may be similar). First with the ignition off and the key removed, just try disconnecting the electrical connector to it and see if it needs a clean as well as the sensor. Then reconnect and try the engine again. If this does not help then it may need replacing (about £20). On the C3 there are 2 sensors but this may not apply in your case. When it is on red I would have thought the rad fan should be running unless it gets its signal from a different sensor to the engine one. I can see you having to buy the Haynes manual to find out all this unless somebody here can help with the details.

[Guest Russell1]

If the radio does need to be recoded (should say in the car handbook) and you do not have the code then your dealer may be able to provide it or an auto electrician should be able to read the code from the radio - I had to do this once on a Saab. However, until the code is put back in, the radio will not work at all which means no cds in it either.

 

Make sure all the air is bled out of the coolant system and you are happy the engine thermostat is ok so opens to let coolant go to the radiator when the engine is hot and the temperature gauge is as normal in the past (try the hoses to the cabin heater to see if they are hot). However, the temperature sensor may be at fault, it is likely to be located on the cylinder head near the thermostat housing (I have not seen a Saxo engine but we have a 1.4 petrol C3 so may be similar). First with the ignition off and the key removed, just try disconnecting the electrical connector to it and see if it needs a clean as well as the sensor. Then reconnect and try the engine again. If this does not help then it may need replacing (about £20). On the C3 there are 2 sensors but this may not apply in your case. When it is on red I would have thought the rad fan should be running unless it gets its signal from a different sensor to the engine one. I can see you having to buy the Haynes manual to find out all this unless somebody here can help with the details.

[Guest Russell1]

Morning Paul

 

wow this is getting technical, I think I will have to call the AA out tomorrow to do all this, way beyond our capabilities.

 

Not heard from my neighbour as yet so fingers crossed, really can't do without the car this weekend.

 

Again, appreciate all your advice, I'm learning so much from you all,

 

Caz

[paul.h]

Just for info, what year/model/engine is your car ?

 

I have read a few posts on this forum on other cars where the temperature sensor has been faulty, sometimes giving poor running and others where it has gone to maximum soon after starting the engine. Replacement has been the cure but the problem with a faulty sensor though is you have to believe it until proven otherwise since if it is correct there is a risk of the engine overheating. I think it may have been John Douglas who had a problem I think on his Saxo like this - he visits this site frequently and is very helpful/knowledgeable and a direct contact to him may help you but he may not have picked up on this posting since it does not have Saxo in the title.

[Guest Russell1]

Just for info, what year/model/engine is your car ?

 

I have read a few posts on this forum on other cars where the temperature sensor has been faulty, sometimes giving poor running and others where it has gone to maximum soon after starting the engine. Replacement has been the cure but the problem with a faulty sensor though is you have to believe it until proven otherwise since if it is correct there is a risk of the engine overheating. I think it may have been John Douglas who had a problem I think on his Saxo like this - he visits this site frequently and is very helpful/knowledgeable and a direct contact to him may help you but he may not have picked up on this posting since it does not have Saxo in the title.

[Guest Russell1]

Hi Paul

 

It's a 2000 W reg 1.1 Saxo Forte.

 

I have a feeling that the leak has done damage to the sensor after all, I'm going to call the AA out tomorrow, let them earn their annual fee for once.

 

I'm holding out for a miracle at the mo, :)

 

thanks again for the time.

 

Caz

[paul.h]

I have just looked on the Saxo sub forum and there is a post there where the engine fan did not come on and the cure was to replace the fuse that had failed.

There is also mention on one post of resetting the overheat warning but no mention of how it was done since somebody had replaced their temp sensor but the warning still came on. On our C3 it has twice in 3 years gone to max temp on the M62 in winter but nothing wrong was found though I have a new sensor and thermostat in case it happens again but there has been no need to reset anything for the temperature to show normal.

 

Anyway, hopefully your neighbour/AA will have it sorted. If your car has a diagnostic socket (as required in petrol cars from 2001) then the AA should be able to plug it in and see what temperature the sensor is showing and decide if it seems correct.

[Guest Russell1]

I have just looked on the Saxo sub forum and there is a post there where the engine fan did not come on and the cure was to replace the fuse that had failed.

There is also mention on one post of resetting the overheat warning but no mention of how it was done since somebody had replaced their temp sensor but the warning still came on. On our C3 it has twice in 3 years gone to max temp on the M62 in winter but nothing wrong was found though I have a new sensor and thermostat in case it happens again but there has been no need to reset anything for the temperature to show normal.

 

Anyway, hopefully your neighbour/AA will have it sorted. If your car has a diagnostic socket (as required in petrol cars from 2001) then the AA should be able to plug it in and see what temperature the sensor is showing and decide if it seems correct.

[Guest Russell1]

Hi Paul

 

wot a star you are! you've brightened up my dismal Friday afternoon at work no end matey.

 

I still haven't spoken to friend about the car, don't want to hassle the life out of him, favour or not I have to be patient and sit on my hands!

 

So I guess you are still feeling the cold up your part of the country? I have a place in Chester, apparently it's frozenall around the house and roads now...thankfully only my scooter is there and that's in the garage so no worries with that.

 

Take care and thanks again Paul,

 

Caz

[Guest Russell1]

Hi Paul

 

well some good news, my neighbour has left the car to run for 30 minutes, the fan kicked in....great! but then the light came on, he seems to think this happened because the car was sitting there for so long, what do you think? should I use it for a 50 mile motorway trip tomorrow???

 

Caz

[paul.h]

When the C3 went to an indicated high temp on the M62 I put the cabin heater on max and the blower on max and opened a window so I did not get too hot. Plus I also slowed down a bit and the indicated temp came back down. Effectively I was using the cabin heater as an extra radiator and was fairly confident to do this without risking damage since on the one earlier occasion 2 years previously nothing wrong was found. The back up plan was to get the RAC to tow the car home.

[Guest Russell1]

When the C3 went to an indicated high temp on the M62 I put the cabin heater on max and the blower on max and opened a window so I did not get too hot. Plus I also slowed down a bit and the indicated temp came back down. Effectively I was using the cabin heater as an extra radiator and was fairly confident to do this without risking damage since on the one earlier occasion 2 years previously nothing wrong was found. The back up plan was to get the RAC to tow the car home.

[Guest Russell1]

Morning Paul

 

hope you had a good weekend,

 

Problem solved after calling out the AA, I had a air block in the rad so once it was bled all ok, managed a trip to Berkshire and back without probs.

 

hard lesson learnt for me, I have voved to take more care of my car and have bored all my friends about the "Antifreeze" issue.

 

have asked for a Haynes handbook for Christmas as I just don't want to be caught out again, also the smug look on the AA mans face was not pleasant, he was soooo patronising,

 

Thnaks big time to you and Womble for all the time and advice,

 

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas,

 

Caz

[Guest womble]

Hello Caz,

 

Glad to hear that you are finally sorted, albeit at the expense of a new radiator and bit'n'bobs.

Think of it this way, you could have been paying for a new engine which would have meant big pennies!

 

As my dear old dad used to say, "So long as you have a car, son, your hand will be forever in your a*se pocket".

Believe me, the old boy was right.

 

My experience of working on vehicles has been at the sharp end for the last 30+ years, Starting as a raw-boned apprentice diesel fitter, as a tradesman, as a part-time lecturer in motor vehicle technology and out of neccessity through repairing all my own cars of which many were absolute "Sheds".

 

It is not a trade you pick up straight away and there is always something new to learn.

 

My problem is that now, due to health reasons, I an no longer able to do the major repairs to my car. It breaks my heart to send it in to the garage and I am most particular over who I dare let loose on the spanners but I have little option.

 

I try to keep abreast of modern technology but even that is going away from me now.

 

Let those who want to take the "P" and ridicule you do so, you have to start and learn somewhere and maybe one-day you can return the back-handed complement to them.

[Guest Russell1]

Hello Caz,

 

Glad to hear that you are finally sorted, albeit at the expense of a new radiator and bit'n'bobs.

Think of it this way, you could have been paying for a new engine which would have meant big pennies!

 

As my dear old dad used to say, "So long as you have a car, son, your hand will be forever in your a*se pocket".

Believe me, the old boy was right.

 

My experience of working on vehicles has been at the sharp end for the last 30+ years, Starting as a raw-boned apprentice diesel fitter, as a tradesman, as a part-time lecturer in motor vehicle technology and out of neccessity through repairing all my own cars of which many were absolute "Sheds".

 

It is not a trade you pick up straight away and there is always something new to learn.

 

My problem is that now, due to health reasons, I an no longer able to do the major repairs to my car. It breaks my heart to send it in to the garage and I am most particular over who I dare let loose on the spanners but I have little option.

 

I try to keep abreast of modern technology but even that is going away from me now.

 

Let those who want to take the "P" and ridicule you do so, you have to start and learn somewhere and maybe one-day you can return the back-handed complement to them.

[Guest Russell1]

Hi Andy

 

Well it has been a hard learning curve, I am resolute now that nothing within my control will EVER go wrong with car plus I don't think my neighbour could stand it! he's been a treasure helping me out, he is like you by the sounds of it, he likes nothing more than tinkering about with his cars.

 

I must admit I'm getting a taste for this repair lark, it's making more sense to me which is great, I think the fear of making a fool of myself has played a big part in this as I'm by no means a " Dumb Blond "

 

My Dad felt the same as you, once he bought the Saxo his knowledge of cars was diminished by at least 50 % which is a shame.

 

So all in all I got off lightly, a bottle of Jacks for my friend and a couple of bottles of Anti Freeze,

 

Thank you again for you time and advice, I've enjoyed the banter :)

 

Have a great Christmas and all the very best for 2011,

 

Caz.

[paul.h]

I am pleased this turned out ok for you in the end, the cost was minimal and the radiator had a hole in it so that had to be replaced. Once you have the Haynes manual, next a ½" drive socket set, open ended and ring spanners and before you know it Machine Mart is a good day out looking at/buying tools. Plus you will save alot of money by doing your own repairs/servicing and it makes older cars economic to run.

[Guest Russell1]

Morning Paul

 

Now you are expecting an awful lot from me now! I am quite handy with the old DIY, I've had to be really, my ex husband was hopeless! I will always try to do something, well except electrics! I know my limits :)

 

So guess I will be frequenting Halfords now rather than B&Q as my house is more or less done, am planning to change the oil and filter over the new year, watched my Dad doing this on and off over the years so I feel confident enough to tackle that once I buy or steal a jack thingy....

 

So watch this space in the NY for me, crying into my new socket set...

 

Best wishes to you and yours,

 

Caz