Overheated

Technical Area Engine, Transmission, Exhaust etc
1

Hi there,
My car overheated today and im trying to figure out the cause
I was out for a drive earlier today and after about 30 minutes of normal driving i noticed the temp gauge was reading a slight hotter than normal and then it took about a minute to shoot all the way to high, so i turned the engine off and pulled over right away, opened the bonnet to see steam/vapour coming from behind the power steering pump, the undertray was wet with a mixture of old oil and water. And there was no water at all in the radiator when i checked after letting it cool down. Also i turned the engine in again to check if heat was coming into cabin and it wasnt, but then the gauge was reading normal.

I filled the radiator with water and as i was filling it there was steam coming back up so the radiator was hot through and i think ran dry.

The expansion tank is halfway full however the water in there almost seems stagnant, if there is anybidy that has had a similar issue point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Chris

  1. My model of MX-5 is: __2.5 nb 1.6l
  2. I’m based near: __ Norwich
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __
2

It is most likely that the thermostat did not open, I would start there.
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3

Oh dear. Sorry to hear of your woes.
May I ask how many miles your car has done and what the front of your radiator looks like please?

My NB began running hot which may have been because many of the radiator fins were squashed.
My car has covered 150k+

Replacing the radiator with a pattern part from MX-5 Parts has cured the overheating so far.

4

Hi, unfortunately not the thermostat tested it and works fine, theres am mx5 specialist pretty much rpund the corner from where i am that ive found so going to give them a ring in the morning, im susupexting it may be the water pump which is a bit beyond my mechanical skills at the moment

5

If you got the thermostat out and tested it then the water pump should be within your capabilities.
:heart:

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