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Help Me - STOP warning!

3K views 21 replies 16 participants last post by  Mat 
#1 ·
Hi guys

I really need your help here. How often do you have to top up your water and coolant?

I have had the "STOP - Check Coolant" warning come up again today. This is about the second time it has happened within the past three months. I am having to top up with water/coolant about every 5/6 weeks, is this common? I have checked for leaks and can not see anything.

I have mentioned this to other people and have been told that "its a big engine". Am I just being a girl?

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
I've never had to top up my coolant apart from when I changed the coolant temp sensor. I do check regularly. I would get it checked out properly if I was you. Be carefull you don't water down the coolant too much or it will loose it's anti freze properties and that could mean trouble if it get we get a really cold spell.
 
#6 ·
I'd start checking all the water system connections, all it would take is a rotten seal on one of them which will leak a little over the space of weeks and run it down. Look for the tell tale pink stains........
 
#8 ·
Hi guys!

Thanks for all the advice. It has since been diagnosed, that the rubber seal on/around the theomostat housing has a split in it, so it was leaking. It is being fixed on Wednesday.

In the menatime I have to drive my bf GTI!! :hahaha:

Thanks again x
 
#9 ·
Mine has been doing this intermittently too for a couple of weeks, but the coolant level is fine. It had a diagnostic on Friday for the emissions warning light and this wasn't picked up so I'm at a loss as to what it could be... I've noticed its been cold out whenever it has done it, but each time I've just turned the engine off and on again and its gone away......:wtf:
 
G
#10 ·
DOMR32 - the problem you have is EXACTLY the same i have - only happens when cold and goes ut if I switch ignition off/on again (sometimes needs to be turned off/on 2 or 3 times), coolant level looks fine - i'm buggered if I know what's causing this. I'll try and get it diagnosed in the next few days:(
 
G
#12 ·
Managed to solve this oe, thankfully nothing wrong with the car.... checked coolant evel when STOP warning came on, noticed coolant was right on minimum level. Topped up with a little water (not much, just enough to take level to max with cold engine). This morning outisde temp is -4 degrees, no STOP warning!!!

The prblem seems to have been when the coolant is right on minimum and the outside temp is near or below freezing, the coolant may contract enough to trigger the coolant level sensor... i noticed that the coolant expansion cap wasn't on fully tight, that would explain the gradual trickle reduction in coolant.
 
G
#14 ·
Water on its own does indeed expand - remember that 40+ % of your coolant will be G12, the rest will be water. My advice to anyone with this problem - check your coolant level when the engine and coolat is stone cold. If it is on minimum top up the coolant. If it works, cool, better than forking out for a sensor if it aint really needed! If topping up coolant doesn't work get it checked out on VAGCOM. Just relieved mine is sorted.:wink:
 
#16 ·
Just wanted to know can you buy a basic VAG COM reader

I took my GF to work and had STOP COOLANT , I know its getting colder now and I have let the car cool down .

Going out soon to look and see if any leaks or the top is done up tight

Any advice please ?

Thanks
 
#17 ·
caxton01 said:
Just wanted to know can you buy a basic VAG COM reader

I took my GF to work and had STOP COOLANT , I know its getting colder now and I have let the car cool down .

Going out soon to look and see if any leaks or the top is done up tight

Any advice please ?

Thanks
Happy days !

Just topped up with about two mugs worth of water and cleaned the contact and went out for a drive and all ok now !

Must just be the cold weather and the water had just dropped a bit in the over-flow top up tank. :marchmellow:
 
#18 ·
I've had this problem today. Not driven my car for about 2 weeks as I've been on crutches, fired it up, and the coolant level light came on. Popped the bonnet and the leves are fine. Had a look in the manual, it says if the level isn't low it could be the rad fan fuse. Checked that ontop of the battery... it was fine... turned car off and on and away it went.

Is this possibly related to the fan issues that happen on the mk4... as my fans appeared to have stopped working....which is quite worrying.

Anyone?
 
#19 ·
I had this same issue. Took my car in for a service 2 weeks ago and they pressure tested it and found nothing so just topped it up. I reckon it's just to do with the cold weather
 
#21 ·
My MKIV 1.8t did this every time it got a bit cold, had at the stealers to check it and check coolant, I just ended up ignoring it in the end. was ok by the time I got to the end of the road and restarted the car
 
#22 ·
You'll probably have a leaking radiator... I had the same issue on my mk4..

I kept on filling it every week or so, just topping up with the right mixture of coolant and water but eventually you will need a radiator...

Mine cost £600 roughly, but got it done under warranty,... get a friendly garage to say it's a faulty radiator and you'll get it done for free... if not go to a specialist not a stealer...

hope it helps..

If you go to a specialist make suer they get a radiator for a golf that has aircon astherer are different ones...
 
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