Bought a 2003 Jetta VR6, 80,000 miles, for our daughter for college last year. She is 6 hours away from us and we thought it would be a good car for her.

Right after we bought it we had to replace the Throttle Body. Then last month we replaced the A/C mixing door module & Evaporator.

Last week she called and said as she was driving over Red Mountain temperature gauge went up to 260 and the RED STOP light came on. She pulled over, opened the hood, let the car sit for 15 minutes. Turned the car back on, temperature gauge was back down to the 190 and she was able to drive down the mountain for class.

Had her take it for her 3000 mile oil change and had them also do a Radiator Flush, topped off all fluids.

Car does fine during the week (she only drive 5 miles at a time to and from school and work), no problem.

She drove to Denver last weekend and over Vail pass temperature was 1 mark away from 260, before the light came on she pulled over, again opened the hood and let the car cool down 15-20 minutes. Started the car back up and continued down the pass and into Denver with no problems. She headed back home, stopped on Vail pass for 45 minutes to visit friends (temp was 1 mark over 190). Drove home and never overheated.

Yesterday she drove to Grand Mesa, 1/2 way up the mountain temp was 1 mark before 260. She pulled over, opened hood, let car cool down for 15 minutes. She noticed when the hood was open the steam was coming out of the passenger side behind the "white ball" in the left upper corner. Finished driving to her class. Car set for 3 hours. She headed back home, went about 45 and stopped for lunch for 30 minutes. Then continued home (temp was 190 + 1 mark).

Had her check the fan when she got home and the fan closest to the Drivers side wasn't on.

Any suggestions? Our VW mechanic is an hour away from us, and don't know of any in her area.

Don't know if it might be the Thermostat, Water Pump, Fan, Fan Relay?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum.

Well if the cooling system has been flushed and nothing very brown came out it could be any othere these items Thermostat, Water Pump, Fan, Fan Relay?

The Thermostat could be sticking which can cause occasional overheating. Now the impellor on the Water Pump can fall/break off but that would cause overheating after the engine gets up to temperature. A faulty Fan Relay or Fan is possible does the fan run at all when it overheats? It could a faulty temperature switch that operates the relay.

https://volkswagenforum.com/forum/ne...gnature-34185/