i just bought a 1987 volvo 360 injection not sure which engine (b19 or 200) but i was driving home the otherday and there was no heat coming out of the vents and the car which normaly sits just under half way on the temp gauge slowly started to rise then the light came on for overheating, then went up some more then went out but kept rising never made it all the way up i was home before then. then when i stopped it i heard the header tank boiling/pressureising, i instantly thought head gasket, i was told the thermostats go often on a 360 by someone today but not the most reliable sorce? or i was thinking water pump i wont get a chance to look till the weekend but has anyone had similar problems or is there a common fault
any help is welcome cheers guys

If you were driving in town traffic it might just be that your fan isn't functioning. Check fluids too? Could even be a blockage in the water, I'd do a full fluid change if you've just bought it too

Radiator? They generally arent in their best of health by now... check to see if it has all its fins!

Also check your fanbelts and tension

When you've checked all those, might be worth making sure your waterpump isn't fookerood.

Check the radiator and thermostat first.

This is what a 360 radiator can look like after only 8 years



Change that and the water pump (and the timing belt & tensioner while it's all out) and you'll be good for several years' trouble-free motoring.

Cheers

Tom

I'd say the head gasket is the most common problem, usually cause by a small leak say in the rad and topping up with water and no anti-freeze. The Anti Freeze stops the galvanic corrosion of the Al-Fe reaction on the waterways interface at the gasket. Often seems to be near No 4.

If its not obviously leaking out, it must be sucking in to the cyls.

You don't really need a fan in the winter even in stop start traffic, the interior heater is enough the keep the engine cool. I have driven on several severe leaks, keep the revs and power low you can nearly air cool them on the motorway especially in the winter.

If the heater has gone cold there is usually not enough water or possibly the pump has failed (but thats quite rare IMO), its getting out somewhere. Fill it up check for leaks stopped then running, if its ok for 5-10 mins then watch the expansion tank daily to see if its going down. If it doesn't run well for a few second/minutes when starting, could be leaking into the clys.

Always keep about 4l of water with you, and loosen the expansion cap if you have a leak to reduce the pressure, it will probably get you home.

cheers everyone seems it could be anyone of the major cooant system components, i only bought it last saterday from a kiddy off v3m seemed very genuine and i definetly dont think it was a stich up just a bit of bad luck on my behalf, i have a thermostat coming tomorrow which is the easyest thing to change and go from there. it needs a new cam belt so i will take that off then check the water pump if thats ok then i will have the head off and check the gasket, just a bit shit that i was looking for one for ages, i get one then she breaks down, but not to worry she will live again. also dose anyone have the info on timing for a 360 saves me getting a manual im a truck mechanic and dont have acess to auto data cheers again for all the help forever

vovo wrote:it needs a new cam belt so i will take that off ... also dose anyone have the info on timing for a 360 saves me getting a manual im a truck mechanic and dont have acess to auto data cheers again for all the help forever

Check out pettaw's superb YouTube video on changing a 360 cambelt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHBwXePU5B0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Z8jpXL99A

As for tech data, check out the "green book" section:
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... m.php?f=36

Cheers

Tom

BTW - you have a B200E

I've had thermostats stuck open, before, but not stuck closed - but no reason it shouldn't happen especially if it's been standing a while. Cheap and takes minutes to change. Buy one from German Swedish & French.

Radiators are never the strongest element of a V300. Nothing from the heater suggest total blockage? Not sure how likely that is... Water pumps normally make a horrible noise when bad.

I doubt it's the HG - HG failure on a 360 is actually very rare.

I doubt it's the HG - HG failure on a 360 is actually very rare.

True. I think Occams Razor applies here - expecially as its a Volvo. The simplest explanation is usually the right one. ....

Although if you suspect the HG, check for water in oil and vice versa. I'd say change thermostat, and flush radiator, then take it from there.

thermostat won't affect the heater, its on a different circuit. Normally if the heater blows cold, its because the water level has dropped significantly. Is there a slow leak from somewhere and the level has just got low? Check the simple things first before diving into the head gasket.

first off if the thermostat is stuck closed the water will not circulate therefore no hot water to the matrix therefore no heat in the cab.
i got round to looking at it today (in the freezing cold ice and snow)i found that something that most volvo 360 owners have never come across. the front crank pully has wound its self loose, stopping the belts from turning the pump and altenator, whats a little weird is that the battery light never came on which is why i never thought it would be belt orientated. just if anyone knows is there a woodruff key on the pully/shaft to lock it in place as there are grooves for one cheers

Sounds like a bodged repair by a previous owner to me

Ahh, more threads from the dead. THis is my old car. Engine was never touched during my limited ownership and previous owner was a family friend of the 1st owner, an elderly woman. All serviced at the same garage. Maybe something done here, but certainly not by me! Would just like to add this to the record...

(Wish I had it back tbh).