I\'m having some coolant problems with my car but I can\'t work out what the hell\'s going on, any help would be much appreciated :cheers
I noticed the car was using a small amount of water (about an egg cup) every time I drove it - (driven the car about 5 times since getting it). Spoke to the chap who rebuilt the engine and he suggested new radiator caps so I replaced the AST and filler cap but the problem still occurred.
I\'ve since bought a pressure tester and tested the system and it doesn\'t hold the required 20psi (it drops away very quickly). I can\'t find a leak though :2Confused I\'ve re-done the test after filling everything to the brim (including expansion tank) - initially water ****es out the expansion tank and then once that is finished I get a lot of gurgling in the AST and expansion tank
any ideas?
does in smoke alot out the exhaust? trouble starting hot or cold.. bubbles in the middle coolant filler when running and the caps off?
Nope, no smoke. No problems starting. Not tried running with the caps off (should I?). You seem to be hinting at water seal failure but it\'s just had a rebuild with new seals (was seal failure last time) :confused:
can you see any steam when the engines hot n running? pop the cap off n see if theres any bubbles when its running, its not 100% but may help..
I\'ve never seen any steam. I\'ll put everything back together and start it up and let you know, is it ok to start up the car without the airbox in (I\'ve started dismantling things, lol)?
thanks for the help :Thumbs-up
what sort of caps have you got has the ast one got a spring on it and is 0.9 bar and is the filler neck cap springless cos i had the same problem and i had the wrong caps
I have 0.9 bar AST cap (with spring) my radiator filler cap is also an AST cap (don\'t ask but I was told by re-worx it\'s ok to use one for the filler cap)
Is it ok to start the car without the airbox on?
well thats how mine was. if i was you i get the proper filler neck cap have a look on rotaryart up top i think they got one if not you can get it from any mazda dealer oh and have a check to see if the hose from the ast to the expansion tank is on as mine was not.
im not sure about the air box but it cant do it any good as its not clean air going in to it
I was having the problem with a standard cap anyway (and when doing a pressure test the filler cap is replaced with the tester).
Hose from expansion tank to AST is on.
I\'ll put the airbox back on (got to wait till it\'s re-set as I managed to break one of the pipe connections taking it off :Hammer)
does the coolant light come on and buzz?
It did buzz when I first started it to move it onto ramps, when I decided I must have a problem. Its never buzzed before though
I just tested the old cap and it was knackered, the new one holds 0.9 bar perfectly. What\'s wrong with using an AST cap for the radiator cap?
Check that the AST hasn\'t split, other than that you could have an airlock in the system and the ast is settling it down.
Usually if you refill the coolant it takes a while to settle down.
Did you remove the pipe going into the throttle body when you topped it back up (highest point). You only need to do this if it is loosing alot.
Shaun
Quote from: shaunwilCheck that the AST hasn\'t split, other than that you could have an airlock in the system and the ast is settling it down.
Usually if you refill the coolant it takes a while to settle down.
Did you remove the pipe going into the throttle body when you topped it back up (highest point). You only need to do this if it is loosing alot.
Shaun
Pipe to the throttle body? I\'ve never disconnected that, could you point out where it is please? The AST
seems fine :)
(http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=30291&stc=1&d=1178465075)
Its not numbered on that image. If you look to the back of the plenum next to the TPS on the throttle body (farthest right at back of plenum assembly) there is a pipe that warms the throttle body intake temp up for cold climates.
Shaun
here you go bud, Shaun means this one :)
http://www.rx7.org/Robinette/throttle_body_coolant.htm
I managed to get the airbox back in (that lower hose is a pain in the ass! :2Mad ) speaking of which I need a new airbox now :spank
I just started the car with the radiator cap off and looked for bubbles (is that the champagne test everyone talks about?). Nothing at all, which I assume is a good thing? I only ran it for a minute
do you have aftermarket ast? they sometimes dont seal right!
AST is standard, hopefully a local chap is going to come and give me a hand, I\'m really loosing the faith here - should\'ve kept the 200 :rolleyes:
Whereabouts in Brizzle are you? And who is coming to help - anyone off here?
Brentry near cribbs, yeah it\'s davehg (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/member.php?u=2447) off here.
Didn\'t realize there were so many around Brizzle!! There\'s a black one I see sometimes at the Aztec roundabout but that\'s it
ok, cool - you could do a lot worse than Dave. He\'ll sort you out nicely.
When\'s he coming over?
Not sure yet, depends when\'s best for him really
Quote from: dhracerDidn\'t realize there were so many around Brizzle!! There\'s a black one I see sometimes at the Aztec roundabout but that\'s it
That sounds like Lum90\'s off here. I\'m horfield, so just down the road. Red FD. I can always pop round too if you ever need a hand. :Thumbs-up
Spoke to the chap I got it off and he\'s given me some ideas to try out to find the problem :driving hopefully I\'ll be able to find it tonight
No probs Rob,
I am sure it will be a slight leak from a hose or the ast cap not seating properly. Call me when you are in front of the car, I can talk you through the way to check things through, if no joy, drop it back and I will get it sorted :3gears-rh
Are you sure youve not just been filling up the overflow? Were you filling the middle filler cap right up to the top? was probably just settling to its level and you were topping up which would result in the excess water being pushed into the overflow tank behind the headlight.
Quote from: dhracerBrentry near cribbs, yeah it\'s davehg (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/member.php?u=2447) off here.
Didn\'t realize there were so many around Brizzle!! There\'s a black one I see sometimes at the Aztec roundabout but that\'s it
That defo sounds like mine you\'ve seen! I live near aztec west! I\'m having a similar problem too you! loseing water and i can\'t work out where from!
Dave defo knows his stuff! Sure he\'ll sort it!
Quote from: koolanceAre you sure youve not just been filling up the overflow? Were you filling the middle filler cap right up to the top? was probably just settling to its level and you were topping up which would result in the excess water being pushed into the overflow tank behind the headlight.
I\'ve been filling right to the top of the middle cap, but I don\'t think the overflow is the problem - it should hold 20psi and it doesn\'t
I\'ve you to blame then Lum! I saw yours a few times about and thought sod it I need to own one at some point :Laugh
i also think its a leaky/blocked pipe etc, its definately not the engine. worst case it may be a weapy rad, thats quite a common thing on old FD\'s. check for a damp patch or see if there is steam coming off it when its up to temp.
Chris talked me through everything and spotted that I was testing to 20psi - you\'re only supposed to test to 13psi with the new caps that are used in the system. :god
Just got to get rid of the tapwater in the system and fill it with a proper distilled water mix and hopefully I can do the 1 more long drive to finish the running in :burnout
oh and fit the new airbox to replace the one I broke :Nono!
still not quite sure why I had to top up after replacing the faulty filler cap, maybe an airlock got in there or something :confused:
Quote from: davehgi also think its a leaky/blocked pipe etc, its definately not the engine. worst case it may be a weapy rad, thats quite a common thing on old FD\'s. check for a damp patch or see if there is steam coming off it when its up to temp.
Right you\'ve fixed that!
Now sort out where my water leak is! :chat
its your rad nanananananana
Lum, I\'ve now got a pressure tester if you need one to find the problem :rollin
That would be great mate! Would i be able to use it this weekend? Think i\'m loseing coolant around the turbo somewhere! and it\'s evaporating before i\'ve seen it!
Yeah no worries, this weekend is fine :)