Overheating

[vampirequeen]

Oh dear.  We collected our Mk1 Berlingo Multispace 2008 1400 Petrol at 4pm.  By 4.30pm we were stop starting on the M1.  The engine overheated.  We put the heating on full.  We started to nurse her to the Services (5 miles) when the traffic started to move freely and we could increase our speed. As soon as we gained speed the engine started to cool.  By the time we reached the Services the temperature was normal.  We went for a cuppa and then drove home at normal speed with no further problems.  We're flummoxed.  Is stop/start a problem for this sort of Berlingo?  The car is still under warranty so we can take it back for repair.  Thanks

[Tomcat3]

No that is not right did the radiator fan kick in. In traffic it should be around 90c and could climb a bit on a hot day but should cool down to normal once air passing through the rad. The cooling system needs to be checked out I would speak to the people you brought it from and get them to thoroughly check it out. By the way you have a M59 model. The 1.4 engine is a bit of an old design and it has been used in loads of citroen/peugeot models over the years they dont use much oil if looked after and the valves are old school and need adjusting I think every 20,000 miles. Do you know if the cambelt has ever been changed and not to worry you but the head gasket tend to rot out around 120,000 miles so keep an eye on the water level if you have no history of it being changed.

[vampirequeen]

Thanks Tomcat.  The car came with a new service and MOT.  I phoned the dealer (not best pleased) whilst on the M1.  He said they'd driven it and it was OK but I doubt they got stuck in an M1 stop/start jam.  We'll arrange to take it back to be checked over.

[Gryffindor]

This won't be much help but might make you feel better... in 1999 I and two siblings toured Eire for a fortnight in an old Transit van bought very cheap. It overheated all the time and we eventually learnt that if we stuck to 50, no more and no less, it would keep going for about 30 mins until it overheated, then we would park up for 30 mins to let it cool, and then repeat the above. Turned out the head had been warped by severe overheating and was, as the mechanic put it, banana shaped. So as it warmed up the middle of the head gasket started grinning!

On our last two days, involving a drive direct in 30 min stages from Connemara due east to Dublin to get the ferry, the timing belt snapped in the middle of nowhere. A chap passing by in a pickup towed us a few miles to a private house whose back garden was a breaker's yard. The owner pulled out a belt from a wrecked Tranny and charged us us a tenner (no Euros yet then) including fitting - best bargain I've ever had - it was still fine when the van died some years later.

Then some miles further on, in the Dublin suburbs, the exhaust manifold fell apart because it had rusted through. We had to tie the front end of the exhaust up with a bit of wire to stop it dangling but had no time to get a proper repair before our ferry sailed. We arrived at Fishguard around 1am and pulled into a petrol station. While we were filling up, some bikers pulled in. When we started the van up to set off, the noise of our exhaust made the bikers jump out of their leathers! Not a pretty sight. We then probably woke up half of Wales driving through the night to get home.

If only we'd bought a Citroen instead.

[vampirequeen]

Thanks Rasputin.  You made me smile.  We used to have an old Tranny.  I loved her but maintaining her was like painting the Forth Bridge.  I was constantly sanding, chasing down rust worms, slapping on rust eater, iron oxide and paint.  I was still sad to see her go though.

[Gryffindor]

Advice for your Berlingo: a service and MOT plus a bit of driving do not necessarily add up to a fault-finding and correcting process or a proper road test. It seems they've left this for the buyer to do.

Get your car checked independently (not where you bought it) to include a written report. This may cost up to around £150 depending on the detail covered by the inspection. Your local service garage may be reputable and a good place to ask, although you do want to avoid ending up with the car dealer claiming that their inspection is not worth its paper by getting one from somewhere with indisputable credentials rather than just good reputation.

I have used ClickMechanic and can recommend them (https://www.clickmechanic.com/jobs/diagn...inspection) but there are others too (this post is not an ad!).

Then take the report to where you bought the car and tell them they must put good all issues found that are covered by your warranty, and also try to include the cost of the independent inspection. You might be able to use the suggestion of legal action as a bargaining tool. Certainly threaten to put poor reviews online. Also consider visiting a CAB for legal advice.

Next time you buy a car, ask the seller if they will allow a pre-purchase independent inspection to be carried out. If they know they're selling a dud they will not like your request. If they agree, it's then up to you whether to order an inspection or not.

HTH.

[Gryffindor]

Thanks Rasputin.  You made me smile.  We used to have an old Tranny.  I loved her but maintaining her was like painting the Forth Bridge.  I was constantly sanding, chasing down rust worms, slapping on rust eater, iron oxide and paint.  I was still sad to see her go though.

I know exactly what you've been through! My most recent tranny was a 1991 minibus which I had to scrap 10 years ago, just when it was becoming 'vintage'. It had only done about 30k miles (spent most of its life in a fire station garage as staff transport) but rust killed it. In hindsight it would have been better to pay to have the rust cut out than buy a replacement, but that's life.

Here's a photo of us in Ireland with that tranny:



https://ibb.co/rbTfRWX

[vampirequeen]

Such a beautiful van.  Shame it fell victim to the tranny lurgy.

[Tomcat3]

If your motor has air con to its worth pulling the pollen filter out as I bet its not been changed for years. Its up under the passenger footwell remove3-4 fixings let carpet fall away for access then slide the bottom of filter housing off. Then gently slide pollen filter out but remember which way it goes back in as it probably has a tapered side and only fits one way.

[vampirequeen]

Thanks No aircon. We think it's the radiator fan. The dealer is going to sort it out on Monday.