I had the similar problem with my 2005 vti automatic. When i bought it fans were direct and no coolant in the radiator rather tap water and radiator was rusty from inside.
A week back i changed timing belt as the mileage clocked more than 100k, also replaced upper and lower hoses in the radiator to avoid any future problems with hose bursts. Also checked water body and crank seals all were intact so didnt replace them. drove The car in karachi for a week on average 40 kms per day with ac and car was fine.
Couple of days a go i drove the car on highway for 125 kilometers and then noticed that temperature gauge started going above the half. I immediately put aside the vehicle and Open radiator having my car remain started. The radiator spilling out water and gas so i immediately turned off the engine. And filled water in it i.e 2-3 1.5 liter bottles of water. Then i caped back the radiator and start the engine but engine would not even round on the self. I thought battery is gone so i arranged a battery from a nearby car but again engine didnt even go around on self.
A person nearby suggested me to let cool down the car because you have switched off engine and filled the radiator with cold water it would nt start now.
I waited for 10 minutes and car started normally. On the same evening i drove back 150 kilometers from Hyderabad to Karachi with AC on and without any problem and the car was fine throughout but when i checked the water level on my return it was 500 ml short. I decided To change radiator as it was already rusty.
On my way from plaza after buying a radiator i stopped car in smchs and switched off the engine. After 10 minutes, when i start the engine it again couldn't start and not even going round on self. I left the car idle for 15 minutes and started again and drove to mechanic directly assuming radiator is totally gone. In this while from smch to rashid minhas road i drove car without ac.
I told mechanic the entire story and he suggested that it could be due to dis-adjustment of timing belt. So he opened the timing cover and re adjusted it and also replaced the radiator and filled it up. I drove car back to my home i.e askari 4 and parked it and open the hood, and noticed traces of water still coming out of the upper hose edge lines in the head. Again thought that spare shop gave me faulty hose which is leaking from top edges. Drove the car again on ac for 15 20 kms and had a solution in mind that keep filling the radiator as the water spill was not very much but car heated again and the temperature went beyond half so stopped it and opened the radiator with started engine. God saved me from a serious splash of water came out from the radiator in started engine and the radiator cap jumped 6-7 feets. Anyway filled the radiator again Had no other option but to switch of the engine after a bit cool off and waited for 15 minutes as car doesnt start immediately.
Anyways some how reached home and curious to know what could be wrong with this.
I have changed hose pipes, radiator and cap and keen to know what other sensors and switches should be replaced and once this problem resolves how to bring back the car on normal cooling mechanism with thermostat sensing and automatic fan switch-off and on.
Please help me resolve this issue as car has a lovely ride and otherwise in awesome condition and i want to keep it and completely with high morale to solve the problem. Appreciate a step by step approach and description of all those parts and sensor which should be replaced.
Waiting for comments from you all.
