For the life of me, I cannot get the air out of my fiancee's cooling system. Its a 2003 VW Beetle with a 2.0L engine. It all started when she told me that its over heating (light has come on while driving. I drained an flushed the system and could not get any heat. Worked at it all on Sunday. Took the day off yesterday and replaced the thermostat. Replaced the coolant with Prestone Long Life stuff. It has taken almost a gallon and a half of 50/50 mix, but will overheat going around the block and at idle will not produce heat from the heater core. If driving with the temp light on, it will sporadically bear a little bit of heat.
Filling the system took hours. I had to warm up the car with the expansion tank cap off, at which time the coolant would bubble and squirt once warm, turn the car off, let the coolant level go down and chase it with some more as the level dropped. It was a very long process. Once the temp dropped enough to close the thermostat, it would not take any more.
I don't think its a head gasket issue because it runs fine, I replaced the plugs and didn't find any white residue and the exhaust doesn't smell sweet.Also I drained the oil and coolant and found no mixing between the two.
Is there a special procedure for changing coolant in a VW that is different that most normal vehicles? Could something else be blocking the flow of air/coolant in the sytem?
Filling the system took hours. I had to warm up the car with the expansion tank cap off, at which time the coolant would bubble and squirt once warm, turn the car off, let the coolant level go down and chase it with some more as the level dropped. It was a very long process. Once the temp dropped enough to close the thermostat, it would not take any more.
I don't think its a head gasket issue because it runs fine, I replaced the plugs and didn't find any white residue and the exhaust doesn't smell sweet.Also I drained the oil and coolant and found no mixing between the two.
Is there a special procedure for changing coolant in a VW that is different that most normal vehicles? Could something else be blocking the flow of air/coolant in the sytem?
