Two Heat problems at Once

[mikarmagsp]

Hello, I am new to these boards, and I saw a heating thread going on, but mine is slightly different and I did not want to step on the other persons question. Mine is this...

I have a 1.9L TDI engine 2000 Beetle w/ about 220,000 miles on it. I have come into two heating problems at once. 1st, the heat light on the dash started lighting red. Sometimes it would go out when speeds where decreased to 60mph (not always though), but now it is staying red after about 2 minutes of driving.

The second issue that has come to play is that I turned the heat on inside the the car and it will not get warm. I don't know if these two are connected or coincidental.

I have checked the fuses inside the car and they look fine. I have also looked inside the engine compartment at the radiator fans. One was stuck (which now rotates after freeing it but problem still persists) and the other was free spinning. There are not fluids on the ground, and although my antifreeze is not new, it is still inside the safe range.

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance.

[Smileybug]

1) Coolant temp. sensor been replaced?
2) When was the last time you replaced your water pump?
3) Check engine light on?

[DZLBUG]

FYI: A steady red temperature light means the engine is overheating and should be stopped immediately. You should never continue driving when this happens. If the light is flashing red, then that means the coolant is low and needs to be topped off.

How long since the water pump has been replaced? It should be replaced whenever the timing belt is replaced. It sounds to me like the water pump has failed. The stock water pump on these have a plastic impeller which tends to fail and then fall off the shaft. I bet if you drain the coolant, remove the thermostat you will find the impeller laying there loose in the block. This will cause both issues you describe, overheating and no heat in the car. There is no heat in the car because the water pump is not circulating coolant.

Aftermarket pumps like Lasso, Hepu or Graf (OE quality) have a metal impeller instead which is much more durable. Most quality TDI timing belt kits include these.

You need to stop driving the car until this is solved. Hopefully you have not already cooked the engine. The car needs to be towed into a competent TDI mechanic.

There used to be a TDI mechanic (though I am not confident of his abilities) close to you in Winchester, but he has since moved to a shop in Herndon. He is not well-known to me and some of his posts on TDIclub don't instill very much confidence.

There are two other options, relatively close to you. I would trust both of these guys without question. Their rates will also be very reasonable, more than enough to offset the cost of a tow and certainly enough to cover dolly rental for a day. Borrow a friends car/truck/SUV if you have to.

These two guys are members over on TDIclub:
Tom Earl (ninedee_golf_tdi)
Stafford, Va.
TDIClub Forums - View Profile: ninedee_golf_tdi
Info and feedback thread: Stafford Virginia, anyone need a4/b4TDI work ? - TDIClub Forums

Matt Wallen (Car 54) in Woodbridge
matt@hilineauto.com
(571) 330-6882