Need help; '96 Jetta...

[ralphylike240SX]

Not the biggest fan of VW, but I don't mind them. Love the MKIII Jettas.
I convinced my girlfriend to get a '96 a couple of months ago, and realized why everyone says they're problematic, haha.

I was driving down MacArthur road about a week ago and realized the temp gauge was rising pretty steadily to overheating. I wasn't too far from her house so I figured I'd just creep the rest of the way over. Next thing you know, I'm at a light, and i see either smoke or steam coming out from underneath the hood. I think it was only steam, solely because it wasn't thick, and it didn't really smell like anything. I was about 6 blocks from her house and decided to push on. Next thing you know I hear a really loud PSSSTTTT and smoke/steam fills the inside of the car coming from the vents. It smelled like straight coolant.

I was wondering if anyone's ever heard of this, or might have any clue as to what might be going on? I think it might be the thermostat went bad, and from overheating ****ed up the heater core, but I don't really do dubs... more of a Nissan guy. Any opinions?

[ralphylike240SX]

anyone...?

[quickline2]

u could have a bad headgasket. y did u keep driving it u could have warped ur head now and need a new head. the second it started rising u should have pulled over it could have been something simple such as a stuck thermostat or low coolant now u may need a new head. and vw's arent that much of a problem it all depends on how u treat them all cars have problems some just stick out more cuz thats what people all complain about.

[ralphylike240SX]

i'm not worried about warping the head, i just didn't want it to get towed. i want to swap a VR and go turbo, so i was kinda looking for an excuse to have to swap the motor, haha. but right now, i just need it on the road to get to and from work. i don't think it's the headgasket, because it still turns on and runs perfectly fine. the only problem is it starts to heat up, and when it does, i get like that steam/smoke that smells like anti freeze. it wasn't low on coolant, i had literally just got done topping off all the fluids the day this happened. also, it recently just got an EVAP leak... would it be better for me to look for the leak, or just replace the whole system?

and one last problem that really bothers me... the oil light with the annoying beeping noise.
i check my oil everyday. i have a CASE of oil in my trunk, but the oil lamp keeps coming on and beeping, all the time. randomly, and then just as suddenly as it starts, it's done. any clue about this?

[quickline2]

the oil light is prolly a faulty sensor u can get one from l&t for fairly cheap ive had that happen to a couple of my dubs. and im gonna say ur head gasket is bad it can run fine but once it gets warm the head will expand causing it to smoke and ull get that antifreeze smell. looks like u might be doing that swap earlier then u thought or u could try a new thermostat but my bet is the head gasket is shot and ur head is now warped from driving it

[ralphylike240SX]

**** that sucks, haha.
do you know how much lenny charges for heads up there?

i haven't been up there since i bough a VR like last fall.

[Willdue]

Did you check anything out under the hood? It would be hard to tell, but if you need someone to look at it, let me know. And dont go to lenny.

[ralphylike240SX]

yeah i mean if you want to meet up, i'd like to get this back on the road asap. just let me know.
i'm pretty sure i saw you tonight on mac arthur road haha.
pretty sure you're a pdiddle and i got someone on your car lol.

you had a big ass box on your rack?

[ein]

So where is it leaking coolant from once it gets hot?

[ralphylike240SX]

that's the thing... it doesn't leak the coolant... it like vaporizes it and it comes out of the vents. and i think it MIGHT be leaking coolant from right next to the big master ecu clip in the bay.

[Willdue]

My cells 4847675915. Yea that's my jetta lol. Just found out it was p diddle. My buddy drives it sometimes to. My golfs under blankets lol

[ralphylike240SX]

okay, i'll hit you up... what's your name so i'm not just like, YO DUDE! lol

[Willdue]

Brian. Prefer text cause i work 10-7 everyday, but after 7 you can call

[ralphylike240SX]

nice, i just texted you.

[clubken]

if you have stuff coming from your vents your heater core most likely took a crap. happened to my corrado. VW heater cores break all the time. My corrado went through two.
Check your passengers side floor, it's most likely wet from the coolant seeping out.

[fakeblood316]

^^^agreed, prob a heater core

[20squared]

Are you experiencing any overheating issues only when idling or only when driving?

[edarling87]

the initial over heating was probably the result of a bad thermostat, should have pulled over immediately

as the temp got hotter the pressure increase, steam was probably blowing out the vent cap on the reservoir and the steam inside the car was probably your heater core blowing

Oil light could be the oil pump going bad or the sensor(s)

If your head gasket isn't leaking now it will be in under 5000 miles, over heating an engine with a cast iron block and aluminum head will guarantee you head gasket problems.

Cheaper to buy a VR6 then do a swap on an MK3. There are bolt on turbo kits for these cars that don't require replacing the pistons with low compression pistons.

[ein]

Originally Posted by edarling87

Cheaper to buy a VR6 then do a swap on an MK3. There are bolt on turbo kits for these cars that don't require replacing the pistons with low compression pistons.

You're out of your mind. A VR swap done right is way more $ than getting the head decked and a new headgasket.

[20squared]

For real. A VR sway done PROPERLY is $$$.

If you need any 2.0 parts let me know. We have a '96 parts car here.