MY NEW Temp problem 2.0 Beetle

[DANMAN]

1999 beetle
2.0l
72000m
First time ever the red overtemp light started flashing (after I had driven about 40 miles at 65 mph and was nearing home).

When i popped the hood one fan was still running..and soon quit. i added some pink VW coolant to the MAX mark

Next day (Sunny 70 F) I took it for a drive to check for syptoms,

The heater worked fine and hot after about 5 miles..i left it blow hot air and drove 30 miles at 50 mph..then the red temp light again came on.

I stopped and popped the hood...no fan movement /. the coolant reservior was swelled to 3/4.
The hoses seemed hot to touch..i wasnt sure the top one was full it squeezed pretty easily

I let the engine cool and the coolant sucked back out of the reservior leaving it at the prior MAX level.
Any ideas?

I never had the pump replaced.

DANMAN

[DANMAN]

The red temp light was flashing not solid

[greenbastard]

If it is overheating at 50MPH speed, it is likely not a fan problem. I'd start with the thermostat, but it could be the waterpump. I understand that the waterpumps are weak on some 2.0 AEG Beetles. If I remember correct, the stock one has plastic impellers which can erode or break. When I replaced the timing belt on my wifes '00...I replaced the water pump with an aftermarket version with metal impellers at the same time. The waterpump is driven by the timing belt, so it makes sense to replace the timing belt, tensioner and waterpump together while it is apart.

[vdubbugman53]

im going to say water pump. mine only overheated on the high way when my water pump only lost a fin or 2.

[DANMAN]

took it for a spin an now the temp blinking light and check engine come on at 10 miles. I let it cool and then came back home

do you think a non VW dealer can do a water pump?

[05yellowbeetle]

The impeller on the water pump of my '98 cracked, it didn't spin with the timing belt anymore. Just before the coolant light turned on and started flashing the car smelled HOT, I drove it a couple miles, called my brothers, they said check and make sure the fans are running, did that, fans were running. Turned it off, sat a couple minutes, I was about 6 miles from home. It cranked up fine, light went off, drove 1/2 mile or so, light was back on, HOT smell was back, my brother said turn on the heater, if the thermostat is stuck, it will allow the water to circulate and cool a little. The air was so HOT (it was May in S FL). I got a couple miles closer to home, then my brothers met me and towed it the rest of the way. There was coolant on the inside of the passenger fender. We let it cool off, checked the thermostat and replaced it. Bought more coolant and filled it back up, the light was back on in under 5 minutes. Bought timing belt/water pump/etc, my brother and I replaced it all. The old impeller was cracked at the shaft.

BTW, my brother drives a diesel F350, the impeller on the water pump is plastic.