ok so the rabbit started to get hot due to a coolant hose that came off...it did not run for long as i shut it off as soon as i noticed the temp gauge start to move. Now when trying to fire pressure builds up and blows off the coolant hose again. Is it the headgasket or
?
Thanks
If it's happening that fast, it's likely a blockage somewhere. Chances are it's in the coolant return hose that goes to the overflow bottle. They're prone for blockage, and will immediately cause pressure to build up in the system.
If you have a turbo diesel with the split main hose that goes over the alternator, and it has a seam 'welded' overflow hose coming off of it, it may have a restrictor in it near the overflow bottle. You'll see a bulge in the hose near that end. I'm not sure why VW did this, but just about every MK II turbo diesel I've seen that has the restrictor, got clogged at some point. Some NA's may have them too.
Since that hose is quite expensive (over $100), you can just drill out the restrictor and pull out the broken remains.
The Rabbit is about the same. I don't see that hose block too often, but it does happen from time to time. You can just replace the hose with something from NAPA or elsewhere.
Quick test to see if the overflow is clogged: Start the motor and leave the cap off. If you can't see coolant coming thru the overflow tube, assume it's blocked. THen you can take the hose off and try to blow backpressure through it with your mouth. If you can't then you need to address the hose.
If that's not the problem, then look to the thermostat.
I doubt that you blew the head gasket. You'd about have to pin the needle to blow the HG, and you said you stopped the car asap, so there likely is no damage there. But if you try to run it like this, there may be.
Good luck
Its a 1.6NA. I cant start the car because it blows the hose off so i should look for blockage in the system??
Nah... if it blows the hose very soon after starting the car you're looking for leakage rather than blockage... head gasket leakage, that is. :cry:
Compression test will confirm / deny.... in my opinion the waterpump alone wouldn't likely drive enough pressure to pop a hose... you'd need some serious heat/steam pressure to do that if it's just a cooling system issue, and you say you can't even start the engine without the hose going.
Yeah every time it blows off the coolant hose....So am i looking at finding a new head? or could there be more damage
Perhaps the first time the hose came off was due to pressure building in the system.
If it's a head gasket leak then your head may still be OK. Especially if it never got overheated. Of course, if you lost your coolant, then it may be warped due to fast/uneven cooling without the water in the passages.
Do the compression test. If it comes up with low compression on one cylinder, then take it off and bring it to a machine shop that knows VW diesels. They'll be able to test for warp.