Saab 9-3 aero overheating - stuck on holiday

[jcborden]

We travelled from the UK to France in our 9-3 Aero automatic and were on our way to Italy, however having only been in France for 70 miles the temperature gauge went to 3/4. We stopped, let it cool down and checked water and oil - oil was fine (not lost any and no mayo on cao) but water had dropped below the cold mark. The radiator fans were both on so working and the air temperature was low (17 degrees centigrade). Also we had a roof box on but not towing anything.

Topped up water and tried a bit further but had to stop 10 miles later after the temperature gauge went into the red and the warning light came on. We pulled over immediately and upon checking under the bonnet the water expansion tank was completely full and bubbling a bit. Half hour later when we looked again the tank is completely empty!

Unfortunately it was pouring with rain so not possible to see any leaks. We have been recovered by the RAC but of course no garage is open on a Sunday so we need to wait until tomorrow...

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be - we don't want to get ripped off in a foreign country where we don't really speak the language??

Thanks in advance!

[BlueMeganeII]

A completely different engine but when my 3.0dci did that it was a head gasket that had gone. I too was confused by one minute there be no water, then tons of it, then none again. Did the tank seem over pressurized?

[Zaphod I]

X2 Head Gasket

[jcborden]

Well the first garage thought it was the head gasket and wanted to charge EURO 1500 - umm no I don't think so. The second garage said it was the thermostat and replaced this and it did indeed resolve the issue. So far, a good few hundred miles later and all seems well.

I have to say that you need to read the small print with European (or indeed any) breakdown cover as the RAC were helpful to a point but once they take the car to their nominated garage, you basically have to accept what the diagnosis and cost of repair, or you are left on your own (i.e. they take away your hire car and leave you to resolve the issue yourselves). In our case we were lucky the first garage couldn't do the work in time and our car was taken to the second. Still we were ripped off to the tune of EURO 400, but it did mean the RAC let us have the hire car for 11 days whilst ours was being fixed... No thermostat in stock in France - had to be ordered from Sweden, if you believe that. All in all I am just glad we managed to do most of our holiday (drive through France to Italy and back through Switzerland) then collect our car on the way home. Saved about EURO 375 in fuel as the diesel Renault was very good on fuel so overall it didn't cost us much - except the massive stress and inconvenience early on.