Overheating 2018 VW Tiguan

[andrew_j]

Our 2018 Tiguan with 217k finally had an issue. My wife thankfully who grew up with beaters noticed temp was near red and car was not upshifting commuting on highway. She got off highway restarted to reset transmission cranked heat to keep temp in check. It likely helped it was 10f out.

Coolant is full so presume either a cold? valve is shut or maybe water pump failed. It has a check engine light after driving so working on getting a code.

Thoughts ?

 

[Trav]

so the thing was revving its nuts off for how long? That could cause it to over heat, what gear was it stuck in?

 

[JavierH19]

These use solenoid actuated coolant valves so that possibly failed. It doesn't sound like it overheated for too long so hopefully no damage was done. Don't know if you have one of those thermal cameras as I really should get one on the next sale but if not letting it run for a few minutes and feeling the hose before and after the valve to see how it's heating up then check again if the cold hose is getting hot once the temp gauge starts to near where the valve open position begins. And yeah good thing she new to crank the heat. Don't know if it has a rear heater core but that also helps. Did that when my yukons thermostat failed. Both heater cores took enough heat out to keep me driving back without it overheating.

 

[RooflessVW]

No MIL?

 

[andrew_j]

so the thing was revving its nuts off for how long? That could cause it to over heat, what gear was it stuck in?

It was stuck in 4 of 8 doing 4k rev. After a restart the transmission is fine at shifting howver as soon as it was taken to 50 mph the temp gauge shot up to near red . It never hit red she is aware of. I think the car actually has an overheat warning in display/touch screen .

 

[edyvw]

Valve, thermostat or pump.
I pushed 2011 Tiguan up the Pikes Peak very hard on one occasion, not dropping below 4k, in environment with low air density (really low, 14,112ft) and while temperature gauge went up, never went over 3/4. Being stuck in a gear with properly functioning coolant system should not cause temperature to go that high.

 

[Trav]

It was stuck in 4 of 8 doing 4k rev. After a restart the transmission is fine at shifting howver as soon as it was taken to 50 mph the temp gauge shot up to near red . It never hit red she is aware of. I think the car actually has an overheat warning in display/touch screen .

View attachment 323896

4K rpm is not bad, I thought it may have been in second and revving at 6K. Ditto on the thermostat or pump. OE is not cheap for these but stay clear of aftermarket unless it is a well known euro made brand. No Gates, Dayco or most of the crap from RA.

 

[scrllock]

code will tell you more but it's EA888 so likely thermostat-related.

 

[andrew_j]

It has codes for thermostat getting replaced with water pump.

The cost of this repair makes me realize how relatively inexpensive a J Series Honda timing belt replacement with a single water pump is.

VW/Audi do overcomplicate vehicles. It has a code also that potentially will clear for another pump in cooling system to speed up cabin heat and cool engine on shutoff. VW expert said leave it be and see if it comes back. It’s a $1000 job in another spot of engine.

 

[trd1zz]

It has codes for thermostat getting replaced with water pump.

The cost of this repair makes me realize how relatively inexpensive a J Series Honda timing belt replacement with a single water pump is.

VW/Audi do overcomplicate vehicles. It has a code also that potentially will clear for another pump in cooling system to speed up cabin heat and cool engine on shutoff. VW expert said leave it be and see if it comes back. It’s a $1000 job in another spot of engine.

If it ran hotter than normal and with 217k miles already how do you know no further damage was done from running hot such as warping the aluminum head, damaging pistons or cylinder walls, and/or blowing the head gasket? At that mileage I wouldn't spend a dime on these repairs until verifying compression is within spec.

 

[andrew_j]

If it ran hotter than normal and with 217k miles already how do you know no further damage was done from running hot such as warping the aluminum head, damaging pistons or cylinder walls, and/or blowing the head gasket? At that mileage I wouldn't spend a dime on these repairs until verifying compression is within spec.

It’s with VW/Audi expert who knows his stuff. He did recommend looking for another vehicle as he said it will have these $1000 repairs soon howver is a glass half full person.

We plan on another year and if something happens so be it, though a year means another 30k for wife driving.

 

[jsean]

It has codes for thermostat getting replaced with water pump.

The cost of this repair makes me realize how relatively inexpensive a J Series Honda timing belt replacement with a single water pump is.

VW/Audi do overcomplicate vehicles. It has a code also that potentially will clear for another pump in cooling system to speed up cabin heat and cool engine on shutoff. VW expert said leave it be and see if it comes back. It’s a $1000 job in another spot of engine.

Out of curiosity, how much is the euro shop charging you for the thermostat and water pump job?

 

[andrew_j]

Out of curiosity, how much is the euro shop charging you for the thermostat and water pump job?

$1500.

 

[slo town]

$1500.

That seems reasonable to me.

Scott

 

[RooflessVW]

.

 

[Andyd95]

1500 is quite reasonable.

5 hrs, intake gasket, union, water pump, coolant ends up closer to 2k. J series timing belt here is about 2k or so, 3k with an oil pump reseal.

 

[scrllock]

It has a code also that potentially will clear for another pump in cooling system to speed up cabin heat and cool engine on shutoff. VW expert said leave it be and see if it comes back. It’s a $1000 job in another spot of engine.

do not pay $1000 to replace the aux coolant pump. you have to remove intake, drain coolant and then it's literally one bolt to pull it off the back of the engine. $300 part, $20 in coolant, and no more than 1 hour of labor.

 

[edyvw]

It has codes for thermostat getting replaced with water pump.

The cost of this repair makes me realize how relatively inexpensive a J Series Honda timing belt replacement with a single water pump is.

VW/Audi do overcomplicate vehicles. It has a code also that potentially will clear for another pump in cooling system to speed up cabin heat and cool engine on shutoff. VW expert said leave it be and see if it comes back. It’s a $1000 job in another spot of engine.

Let’s unpack this. You have 217k on water pump!!! It doesn’t matter what vehicle it is, 217k is A LOT!
In 217k on J engine you must do belt twice, which using today’s prices amounts to $2500-3000.

 

[andrew_j]

Let’s unpack this. You have 217k on water pump!!! It doesn’t matter what vehicle it is, 217k is A LOT!
In 217k on J engine you must do belt twice, which using today’s prices amounts to $2500-3000.

Agree however VW uses two electric plastic pumps one with thermostat. Crossing fingers the code for aux pump will go away . Apparently the water pump is working still , the thermostat in same plastic housing is stuck.

 

[JavierH19]

Agree however VW uses two electric plastic pumps one with thermostat. Crossing fingers the code for aux pump will go away . Apparently the water pump is working still , the thermostat in same plastic housing is stuck.

Plastic thermostat housings....my favorite.