Please help. Beetle overheating

clevertonehannah · #1 07-02-2007, 10:15 PM

I have a 2000 Beetle. I was just pulling into my driveway the other night and the coolant warning light (red temp light?) came on. When I opened the hood, the reservoir tank was boiling. After the car cooled down, the reservoir was empty. We added coolant but the light still comes on after just a mile or so of driving. The tank is hot but not boilng anymore. The upper hose is hot and the lower hose is hot also. It seems to take the light longer to come on when the AC is running. The light turns off when you wiggle the pump a bit, but then it turns back on after driving a short distance. We were hoping to fix it ourselves...maybe... I would much appreciate any advice. Thanks.

hako · #2 07-03-2007, 06:18 AM

What do you mean by: "The light turns off when you wiggle the pump a bit,"

Also, do you know when the waterpump was last changed as these only last a limited period. Good Luck.

clevertonehannah · #3 07-03-2007, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hako

What do you mean by: "The light turns off when you wiggle the pump a bit,"

Also, do you know when the waterpump was last changed as these only last a limited period. Good Luck.

Thanks for answering. I bought the car used, I dont know when the pump was last changed, if it ever was. It is a 2000 with 62,000 miles. When I was sitting in the car. My husband was looking under to hood to see which hoses were hot and to see if fans were working. He jigled the pump and the red light turned immediately.

hako · #4 07-04-2007, 07:08 AM

Not sure what you mean when you say that hubby "jiggled the pump" as that ain't exactly easy unless you want to lose some fingers in the drive belt!
Whatever, first check that the cooling fans are coming on when the car is hot - if not then check the fuses on top of the battery as they may have melted and/or fused. If they are coming on and the top and bottom hose are hot then next would be the waterpump ....and at your mileage it would need changing anyway. Also change the timing belt and tensioner. (cheap insurance) I think in Yankee dollars the parts are about $200 and you can do it yourself if you are mechanical.
Don't give up on your Bug - its 7 years old and needs a tickle every now and then. Good Luck.

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