I have a 2001 Seat Alhambra 115 Diesel I started to have problem with the coolant system & returned it to the garage I got it from they bled the system & all appeared ok till 3 days after the warranty ran out. Since then I have had major problems with it, firstly it was overheating so I took it to an independent garage who told me the rad was blocked so they would flush it & & fit a new stat that did not work. I returned it so they said it could be the impeller on the water pump that did not work so again I returned it where they carried out a head test apparently the head had gone they gave me a price to do this I was gobsmacked! I took the car to another garage who told me the wrong stat had been fitted so they changed that still nothing they then told me it was also the wrong pump so they changed that nothing they went a lot further into it & told me there was a small electric pump under the bulkhead that was not lifting the coolant up to the heater so they changed that nothing! They have had the car for 3 weeks & cannot come up with an answer to the problem & have told me they give in. The heaters both work fine when the car is stationary you can rev a much as you want & its great as soon as the car is put under load (they put it on a rolling road) any load is put on the heater goes cold I am a single dad with 5 kids & just cant afford to put anymore money at this but on the same hand I cant afford another car can anyone help please

Dave, December 2010

there is a little plastic restrictor in the overflow pipe off the header tank try removing the pipe and replacing it with a new pipe and trying it again

neil, February 2011

where is polin filter located?

ciaran, February 2011

heads are good but the head gaskets are a known issue!!!
head tests are hard to perform on the car.gas sniffers don't work well due to lack of hydro carbons produced.If every thing else has been done we would replace head gasket for overheat/pressure issues

Westy, December 2010

Thanks Westy. As far as i know it has not been on a on a diagnostic tester or fault codes reader. A head gasket test was done by both garages & both came back saying it was ok. I was assured by the VW agent that the heads are solid & very very rarely go.

Dave, December 2010

has this been on a diagnostic tester and fault codes read?? and if so have they checked the aux heater is working under the nearside passenger door.this puts extra heat in to the engine to keep it warm.if the engine overheats and pressurises the header tank then the head gasket is the most likely suspect and is common issue

Westy, December 2010

Forgot to say the air con condenser is knackered as I found out from first garage but again they refuse to do it under the warranty but heater was working ok before this was diagnosed

Dave, December 2010