Vauxhall Vectra Please Help

[PFA]

Hi All,

I just have a few questions abt my Vx Vectra ... if anybody could ans I would be much obliged.

-> I was driving along when I suddenly noticed the temperature started to climb pretty quickly. I opened up the hood just to see if there was enough water and sorts - and I heard a distinctive hissing noise. Sounded as if it was air escaping from a punctured tyre. This was when the engine was turned off!! The water levels / coolant levels was all fine - no noticeable reason - however the coolant reservoir was hot. Is this normal or do i need to go into PANIC mode.

-> I am going to put some engine oil in just as a normal top-up - I did notice it is just above the 1 litre mark - but Is this why it was overheating at all??

-> When I change from 1st to second - if I floor the pedal I can feel the car losing power first before it can pick up again (the same way it loses power if one has run out of fuel - but I still have a full tank in there!!!). It literally lasts only for a couple of seconds then it is back on track. Same thing happens in third as well.

Any ideas / suggestions guys???

Thanks In Advance.........

[woodchopper]

The expansion bottle will get hot - perfectly normal.
As for the hot engine - suspect the thermostat may be sticking.
As long as the cooling fan kicks in - usually around 98 degrees should bring it back down.
Oil level wont have any effect on engine temp unless it is below the min. mark in which case you would probably sieze the engine - so keep it above the min. mark.
If it accelerates slower when the engine is hot - this again is normal - the engine management retards the iginition at higher temps.
If it does it at normal temperature - take it to a mech head and get him to have a look at it.

[PFA]

Thanks WoodChopper - I'll get it checked out anyways - better safe than sorry!!