Before - Our van has always run well - temp gauge had a tendency to go AWOL every now and again, but worked most of the time, sat happily in the middle over the light. Light only flashed a few when you turned on the ignition.
Couple of weeks ago - van goes in for big (i.e. expensive service), one thing they said they'd do was flush and replace the coolant. Picked it one morning - within two to three miles the red light started flashing (temp gauge not moved - sat on 0). Nursed it home, rang garage, they came and looked, said something about wiring and sensor, they took it back in and said they'd sorted it, returned it last Tuesday.
Today - first day I've had chance to drive it, family trip away for the night to coast. Iginition on, light flashes, goes off, within a few seconds starts flashing again. Set off anyway, see what happens, within half a mile, temp gauge starts climbing and doesn't stop till it's all the way to the top. Panic, turn round, nurse it home.
Engine cover off - feel heat radiating off it straight away (we've gone max 2 miles), main coolant tank (dalek) is hot feels pressurised when I try the lid, didn't crack it too far but hisses like a bottle of pop when you open it and coolant wanting to come out. Can't get lid off letter box tank, but can't see a coolant level so it's either full to the brim or empty - going to try again to get lid off now, but family want to get to the beach!
Any ideas for when I ring the garage on Monday? I'm not amazingly technically inclined, alot of this may be normal, but we've just paid a lot of money for this service and it's come back in a seeming worse state than it went.
Hopefully have broadband at campsite so will try and respond later if there's any questions. Cheers.
