Overheating?

[Pettsie]

After about 5 miles my 99 XJ8's temperature rises and the red light comes on. It does not seem to get too hot but using the heater on full blast does cool it down. There is no 'boiling up' or oil in water etc. Any ideas? Thermostat?

Added:

I can run it warm at idle for 15 minutes with no proble. If I drive it it heats up almost immediately.


>>> Edited by Pettsie on Saturday 23 April 15:40

[John Millar]

Thermostat and/or waterpump. The pump rotor is plastic, and can melt if the thermostat fails.
There are now better versins of both available.

[thesilverfox]

John is spot on. done quite a few now, the water pump impeller falls off. due to the thermastat getting jamed shut

[Pettsie]

You were both spot on! New waterpump and thermostat - problem solved.

Thanks for the advice...