FTO AUSTRALIA

Hey everyone, hows it going? This issue started a couple of weeks ago & its just getting worse, i notice my temperature has started to go above the half way point when I'm driving for more than 30mins, just doing 60kms-70kms, i just thought its nothing, but now i when i drive on the freeway for more than 15 minutes doing 100km, the temperature goes up more than half way & gets near the hottest level, so i slow down to 70km & the temperature goes back down, so i can't drive on the freeway doing 100km, only 70km. So i got my mechanic to take a look at it, at the same time he said i needed a tune up, so cost me $1000..ahhhh..anyways he told me that there's nothing wrong with my car, he said pressure is all normal, fan's are working & there's no leaking coolant, so he came to the conclusion that my number plate is blocking the air coming in on the radiator. I have the front veilside bumper, that's why my number plate is on my front grill. So is this whats causing the issue or is it something else? By the way, I changed my thermal stat a month ago. so could it be the thermal stat stuffing up again? I don't know what to do....please help! thanks again for your support.
BJ aka DRFTO

If it's only happened since you fitted the thermostat I'd bet you got a dodgy one, or your mechanic stuffed up fitting it.

I've near heard of anyone else having issues with grill mounted number plates, have you had the car like that longer than the thermostat was replaced? If so and the issues have only come about since the thermostat change I'd definitely be thinking it's something with the thermostat.

RallyMad wrote:If it's only happened since you fitted the thermostat I'd bet you got a dodgy one, or your mechanic stuffed up fitting it.

I've near heard of anyone else having issues with grill mounted number plates, have you had the car like that longer than the thermostat was replaced? If so and the issues have only come about since the thermostat change I'd definitely be thinking it's something with the thermostat.

Couldnt agree more.

There's no way in hell a license plate is going to overheat your car.

It could be your water pump are you getting water circulation?

I8A4RE wrote:

RallyMad wrote:If it's only happened since you fitted the thermostat I'd bet you got a dodgy one, or your mechanic stuffed up fitting it.

I've near heard of anyone else having issues with grill mounted number plates, have you had the car like that longer than the thermostat was replaced? If so and the issues have only come about since the thermostat change I'd definitely be thinking it's something with the thermostat.

Couldnt agree more.

There's no way in hell a license plate is going to overheat your car.

It could be your water pump are you getting water circulation?

Well 2 months ago my car was overheating, so my mechanic replaced my thermostat, ever since then its been ok, until now..that's what i thought, how can a number plate cause this issue, he said the air intake is blocking the air going onto the radiator...i asked him about the thermostat but he said he replaced it with a new one, so he thought it was the number plate...so you think i might need to consider if its a faulty thermostat or maybe the water pump...do you guys think i should ask him to replace the thermostat or water pump?

Get a 2nd opinion.

Has the coolant been changed? If not try using a de-scaler ( from Supercheap/ Repco etc) and then drain the whole system and back flush the radiator. Use a good quality anti-boil/anti-freeze additive and see how it is then. Always worth doing the easy stuff first before paying someone to start randomly changing pump, stat, hoses etc.

zaskar98 wrote:Has the coolant been changed? If not try using a de-scaler ( from Supercheap/ Repco etc) and then drain the whole system and back flush the radiator. Use a good quality anti-boil/anti-freeze additive and see how it is then. Always worth doing the easy stuff first before paying someone to start randomly changing pump, stat, hoses etc.

+1
always start with the simple remedy.

zuihoujueding wrote:

zaskar98 wrote:Has the coolant been changed? If not try using a de-scaler ( from Supercheap/ Repco etc) and then drain the whole system and back flush the radiator. Use a good quality anti-boil/anti-freeze additive and see how it is then. Always worth doing the easy stuff first before paying someone to start randomly changing pump, stat, hoses etc.

+1
always start with the simple remedy.

I8A4RE wrote:It could be your water pump, are you getting water circulation?

Check before you start replacing stuff, sorry guys but wats the point in descaling and then replacing coolant, if your just going to have to buy more coolant if the water pump is f&*ked

I8A4RE wrote:

zuihoujueding wrote:

zaskar98 wrote:Has the coolant been changed? If not try using a de-scaler ( from Supercheap/ Repco etc) and then drain the whole system and back flush the radiator. Use a good quality anti-boil/anti-freeze additive and see how it is then. Always worth doing the easy stuff first before paying someone to start randomly changing pump, stat, hoses etc.

+1
always start with the simple remedy.

I8A4RE wrote:It could be your water pump, [be]are you getting water circulation?[/be]

Check before you start replacing stuff, sorry guys but wats the point in descaling and then replacing coolant, if your just going to have to buy more coolant if the water pump is f&*ked

+1 but first thing is definatly check that thermostat put it in some boiling water and see if it opens that simple!

then take from there as for $1000 tune up what the hell did you get done??? and maybe look for another mech?

I reckon your radiator is blocked.

BJ wrote:

I8A4RE wrote:

RallyMad wrote:If it's only happened since you fitted the thermostat I'd bet you got a dodgy one, or your mechanic stuffed up fitting it.

I've near heard of anyone else having issues with grill mounted number plates, have you had the car like that longer than the thermostat was replaced? If so and the issues have only come about since the thermostat change I'd definitely be thinking it's something with the thermostat.

Couldnt agree more.

There's no way in hell a license plate is going to overheat your car.

It could be your water pump are you getting water circulation?

Well 2 months ago my car was overheating, so my mechanic replaced my thermostat, ever since then its been ok, until now..that's what i thought, how can a number plate cause this issue, he said the air intake is blocking the air going onto the radiator...i asked him about the thermostat but he said he replaced it with a new one, so he thought it was the number plate...so you think i might need to consider if its a faulty thermostat or maybe the water pump...do you guys think i should ask him to replace the thermostat or water pump?

Guess what...i drove this weekend to Oakleigh (can't spell) to get my front windscreen sticker done at Car X & my car's temperature didn't go up & it was a hot weekend...so my mechanic was right den....i don't understand how the number plate cause this issue..all well...now i gota fix my rear bumper cause my dad hit it!...ahhhh...too many problems, thanks for your help guys =)
BJ aka DRFTO

As i said before there is no way in hell your license plate would cause your car to overheat. It may have fixed the symptom but you have another problem.

Also like i said above do you have water circulation?

That will give you an indication whether your water pump is dorked or you have a blockage.

[quote="I8A4RE"]As i said before there is no way in hell your license plate would cause your car to overheat. It may have fixed the symptom but you have another problem.
quote]


couldnt agree more^^^^ start with the basics ie thermostat, radiator cap and flush etc before pulling apart for costly waterpump though unless due for timing belt change?

I8A4RE wrote:As i said before there is no way in hell your license plate would cause your car to overheat. It may have fixed the symptom but you have another problem.

Also like i said above do you have water circulation?

That will give you an indication whether your water pump is dorked or you have a blockage.

well at the time when my mechanic was looking at my FTO, he did say i do have water circulation, and the pressure all normal, no blockage, fans are working...i asked about the thermostat, he said it was brand new & he installed it properly...etc...he said if the water pump wasn't pumping properly, my car temperature will go up when I'm in traffic also....i duno...i guess i have to double check everything if the problem is somewhere else & ask another mechanic...any suggestions? =)
thanks guys
BJ aka DRFTO

jst because he installed thermostat properly does not meant its not fault can be a dud one as just one of those things...... have you used any water? but i would definatly be wanting to get to bottom of this as water probs + left alone = big$$$$

^^^^^ agreed.

Did he get all the air out of the sytem when he replaced the thermostat?

Ok i just re-read what you initally posted

This issue started a couple of weeks ago & its just getting worse

How long have you had your plate there?

If you have had your plate there for a long time but the problem has only started recently, then mate you have answered own question. I would be demanding he fix the problem (which i would bet my left testie) that it is either the thermostat or something he has caused, since fitting the thermostat and should be fixing it free of charge.

Otherwise get your car out of there as he is a complete gimp

I8A4RE wrote:^^^^^ agreed.

Did he get all the air out of the sytem when he replaced the thermostat?

Ok i just re-read what you initally posted

This issue started a couple of weeks ago & its just getting worse

How long have you had your plate there?

If you have had your plate there for a long time but the problem has only started recently, then mate you have answered own question. I would be demanding he fix the problem (which i would bet my left testie) that it is either the thermostat or something he has caused, since fitting the thermostat and should be fixing it free of charge.

Otherwise get your car out of there as he is a complete gimp

weird...well ive had my number plate on my grill for ages, then when i had problems with my car overheating, he replaced the thermostat, then for about 2 months it was fine, then now the temperature thing started happening, since i moved it, its ok...so you think i should ask the mechanic to double check the thermostat? or check if the water is circulating? i think he might charge me though...?

If it sounds to you like he's not even going to consider that it may be a faulty thermostat or something else he has damaged then I'd be considering very heavily going to a different mechanic if you think your going to be charged anyway.

I'd go back to this guy first, request he checks the water circulation thermostat etc that others have mentioned, ask him if you will have to pay for it and what the cost will be (a qoute), if he sounds like he'll charge you for the whole thing again I'd take the car elsewhere.

***WARNING : Generalisation ahead****
Oh and another tip, I wouldn't tell him that you've gotten this direction about there still being a problem with the water system from the internet. In my experieince mechanics don't like being told their wrong, even when you have been in contact with people that know more about the car in question then they do. In my experience a lot of them just reject the advice and claim 'it's from nerds, what would they know' Magicaly they don't acknowledge the tip when it turns out the tip was correct either And charge you for all the time they wasted trying to prove it was something else

.....end rant

Kamikaze are a bit dodgey anyway, so after this incident is solved change mechanics.

agreed, there is no way its the number plate, the car sucks in air from everywhere not just the front, and the FTO has a huge radiator its just not possible..

either youve got a block in your radiator (take the cap off and see if there is any rust in the water)

or faulty thermostat

or the waterpump is going... how old is the car? as this is likely but expensive and annoying to fix, especially if youve had to replace the thermostat before...

good luck buddy, id be taking it to another mechanic