Just made good use of the RAC! [Breakdown alert] - Page 2

alsner · Oct 8th, 2006, 20:00

Can't remember the last time I had breakdown cover. Keep thinking about it but never do anything about it, then my car breaks down, wish I had it, fix it and forget about it again.

Glad to hear they sorted you out quickly though James. As Chris has already said don't worry about your headgasket it'll be fine, they're alot tougher than a slight loss of coolant especially as yours didn't overheat at all. I've had my temp gauge at the max briefly when the fanbelts snapped on the motorway and all is well with my headgasket.

ALi

Doctor Who ? · Oct 8th, 2006, 20:54

Yep' I'm with the School of Optimists too ...... Though, if other Hoses start "Going" ................. Oops

James_N · Oct 9th, 2006, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by alsner

As Chris has already said don't worry about your headgasket it'll be fine, they're alot tougher than a slight loss of coolant especially as yours didn't overheat at all. I've had my temp gauge at the max briefly

Well this is it, I'd of thought my temp gauge would of risen slightly given no coolant in the radiator and steam coming out the bonnet! Makes me wonder if the temp gauge is working ok, but the gauge moves as it should in a morning when the car is warming up, so i dunno, its smack bang in the middle for normal driving also - just like it should be.

With regards to breakdown cover - Mine is Response RAC cover (being disabled and not being able to walk too far is an arse at the best of times, so breakdown cover for me is a potential life saver!). I pay £8 a month, which is neither here, nor there. Its well worth it Alsner if you think about sorting it out

alsner · Oct 9th, 2006, 00:56

Sounds to me like your gauge is absolutely fine and you didn't have enough time for the engine to really start to overheat. I thought my gauge wasn't working properly until it went sky high, with a viscose fan unit they keep an amazing constant temp inlike electronically controlles fans.

I should sort out the breakdown cover I just never get round to it, might just put it on with my insurance in nov

Ali

LankyTim · Oct 9th, 2006, 10:22

If you catch it in time the temp gauge shouldnt rise, but if you leave it too long it will actually fall to zero. The gauge works by measuring the temperature of the water in the cooling sytem, if theres a leak and all the water runs out quickly or is blown out by the pressure then the gauge will fall to nothing as there is no liquid in the system to measure the temerature of.

James_N · Oct 9th, 2006, 11:24

i pulled over no more than 20 seconds after i first saw the first bit of steam, which was just long enough for me to get away from a main set of lights and nip down a side street out of harms way.

Ive been driving the car yesterday and today, and its still running fine, so im assuming no long lasting damage has been done, which is a relief

Oct 8th, 2006, 20:00	#11
alsner In Volvo limbo Last Online: Aug 4th, 2013 03:26 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: At home View Photos By: alsner	Can't remember the last time I had breakdown cover. Keep thinking about it but never do anything about it, then my car breaks down, wish I had it, fix it and forget about it again. Glad to hear they sorted you out quickly though James. As Chris has already said don't worry about your headgasket it'll be fine, they're alot tougher than a slight loss of coolant especially as yours didn't overheat at all. I've had my temp gauge at the max briefly when the fanbelts snapped on the motorway and all is well with my headgasket. ALi __________________ Volvo History 1990 745 GLE (10 months) 1989 745 Turbo (16 months) I will return to the fold when the time is right. *It's Just a Ride* Bill Hicks

Oct 8th, 2006, 20:54	#12
Doctor Who ? Junior Member Last Online: Dec 19th, 2009 22:23 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UPTON, Wirral, United Kingdom.	Yep' I'm with the School of Optimists too ...... Though, if other Hoses start "Going" ................. Oops __________________ The only Time that matters, is now.

Oct 9th, 2006, 00:56	#14
alsner In Volvo limbo Last Online: Aug 4th, 2013 03:26 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: At home View Photos By: alsner	Sounds to me like your gauge is absolutely fine and you didn't have enough time for the engine to really start to overheat. I thought my gauge wasn't working properly until it went sky high, with a viscose fan unit they keep an amazing constant temp inlike electronically controlles fans. I should sort out the breakdown cover I just never get round to it, might just put it on with my insurance in nov Ali __________________ Volvo History 1990 745 GLE (10 months) 1989 745 Turbo (16 months) I will return to the fold when the time is right. *It's Just a Ride* Bill Hicks Last edited by alsner; Oct 9th, 2006 at 01:00.

Oct 9th, 2006, 10:22	#15
LankyTim Missing the point Last Online: Feb 5th, 2023 23:12 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Stoke-On-Trent View Photos By: LankyTim	If you catch it in time the temp gauge shouldnt rise, but if you leave it too long it will actually fall to zero. The gauge works by measuring the temperature of the water in the cooling sytem, if theres a leak and all the water runs out quickly or is blown out by the pressure then the gauge will fall to nothing as there is no liquid in the system to measure the temerature of. __________________ Tim 1968 Volvo 145 long term project. Currently without a Volvo daily driver.

Oct 9th, 2006, 11:24	#16
James_N VOC Member Last Online: Jan 4th, 2024 11:32 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stafford View Photos By: James_N	i pulled over no more than 20 seconds after i first saw the first bit of steam, which was just long enough for me to get away from a main set of lights and nip down a side street out of harms way. Ive been driving the car yesterday and today, and its still running fine, so im assuming no long lasting damage has been done, which is a relief __________________ 1997 Volvo 940 LPT Celebration. 187,700 miles, manual.

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