Problems with overheating and engine warning light on Toyota Hiace 2012: Troubleshooting tips and experiences with workshops

Hey, I had a similar problem with my 2010 Toyota Auris. I'm not a car mechanic, but I do have some experience with cars. My garage finally diagnosed the problem as a faulty cable on the pump/control unit. The repair cost me 95.0 euros. To be able to help you more precisely, I would need a few more details about your vehicle and the symptoms. Where exactly is the problem occurring? Does the engine warning light always come on or only sporadically? Have you already made a fault memory extract from the on-board computer? The more information I have, the better I can help.

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for your reply! The warning light comes on pretty sporadically, but the overheating mostly happens when I'm driving in town. I haven't done a fault memory extract yet. My last inspection was at 288633 km, if that's still relevant. The garage didn't notice anything unusual at the time. I'll have a look around to see if I can find a faulty cable somewhere. Thanks for the tip!

(Translated from German)

Hey, no problem, that's what we're here for! If the indicator light comes on sporadically, I think you should make a fault memory extract. This can tell us a lot from a distance and help us to better assess the cause. The overheating when driving around town already points to a problem in the cooling circuit. The way you describe it, with the overheating in city traffic, it could well be due to the coolant pump, as the pump is put under greater strain in stop-and-go traffic. However, other parts of the cooling system such as the thermostat, radiator or radiator fan can also cause problems. If you look for the faulty cable yourself, please make sure you don't make things worse. If you are unsure, it is better to leave it to a workshop. It's a bit like going to the doctor - self-treatment can do more harm than good. Of course, you can also just take a data logging drive and see what the on-board computer says during an overheating phase. You may be able to rule out certain sources of error. In any case, stay relaxed and don't be intimidated by the symptoms. A bit of troubleshooting is part of the car.

(Translated from German)

Hey, your tips really help me, thanks! Yes, you're right, it's better if I leave the troubleshooting to professionals. I will definitely do a fault memory dump and try a data logging drive. I really hope the problem will be fixed soon. But you're right, staying relaxed is the most important thing. Thanks again for your support!

(Translated from German)