Add coolant alert

[Rich Cheung]

Cheers chap, I\'ll try that this week and post how it goes on.

Nicked the g/f\'s 1.0L Fiesta for work. Its amazing how far £10 of fuel gets you in that

[Oedipus Rex]

hmm...

more info. If anyoen can tell anything from this.

If I fill the system with coolant, it just starts leaking out onto the floor (it would appear), I did spill a bit but I\'m sure it dripped more than I spilled. This is with the engine switched off.  It seems that it is impossible for me to fill the thing, however much I put it it will take more, like if I just leave it for a few hours and come back it will have dropped right down . I have felt around as far as I can without starting to unclip and remove things and I can\'t feel a leak. Also jacked it up but couldn\'t see f all through the shields  but I\'m guessing there is a cracked / split / loose pipe somewhere in a position that means it loses some water but not loads and loads. This could also explain the bubbling from the system, as air would also be getting in.


Thoughts anyone?

Another point of interest. A small amount of oil on floor around about under the drivers seat area, after sitting for a couple of days. No idea if there could be a link between the 2

[iaint]

Could be a split in the expansion tank.  Not uncommon and can exhibit the overflowing behaviour when you top the system up.  

Worth checking at least.

[Oedipus Rex]

Originally posted by iaint
Could be a split in the expansion tank.  Not uncommon and can exhibit the overflowing behaviour when you top the system up.  

Worth checking at least.

don\'t think so because it\'s not dripping from behing the O/S headlight, it\'s more central than that. It did originally come from there, I think that was just me overfilling the system after the first time I got the alert though.

[clive]

Now we have a bit more info this is looking like one of two things possably( provideing its water dripping from under the engine ),

1 / check the turbo water pipes or 2/ its a water seal dripping outwards and not inwards into the rotor housing

Sadly either way unless you know a lot about cars the time has come to get a rotary company involved.

You said that you had only just got the car so can you go back and talk to the Guy about some help with your not well car??

[Oedipus Rex]

Originally posted by clive
Now we have a bit more info this is looking like one of two things possably( provideing its water dripping from under the engine ),

1 / check the turbo water pipes or 2/ its a water seal dripping outwards and not inwards into the rotor housing

Sadly either way unless you know a lot about cars the time has come to get a rotary company involved.

You said that you had only just got the car so can you go back and talk to the Guy about some help with your not well car??

agreed, I\'m gonna get it booked as soon as possible. It\'s not done a single mile since I\'ve become aware of the problem.

As for talking to the guy, it was sold by a dealer, with no warranty intended or given. It definitely didn;t have the problem when it arrived with me but I\'m pretty sure I\'m still entitled to some protection within the law, as I lodged my dissatisfaction within the first week. I\'d take it back for them to have a look at, unforunately they are 280 miles away from me so it makes life a little tricky.

By the way Cive, I really appreciate the feedback you\'ve given me. This site has been invaluable to me in a very short period of time.

[clive]

Originally posted by Oedipus Rex

This site has been invaluable to me in a very short period of time.

MRC was formed to try and help people and to enjoy these great cars  

[MillSpeed]

Just thought I\'d jump in and offer my 2 cents. The fact that she seems to be losing coolant when she\'s cold defo suggests that there\'s a ruptured pipe somewhere in the system. Like Clive says, the turbo coolant pipes are a prime candidate purely because they get such a hammering from all that heat down there. Obviously when the engine heats up the coolant is just gonna p*ss out! If your coolant seals had failed to the point that they made a visible difference to the water level, when you started her up you\'d be able to see a steady stream of bubbles flowing to the surface in the filler neck (this is known as the \'champagne test\'). Also take a look at the condition of the pressure cap on the AST. If the seal is compromised then as soon as she heats up she\'ll just push all of her coolant into the overflow tank and then won\'t draw any back. Any doubt just change it, they\'re only about £4 from any good motor factor. The bubbling/gurgling sound you mentioned seems to be normal, I think you\'ll find that most rex\'s do it. I\'ve put a higher pressure AST cap on mine in an attempt to prevent this but I haven\'t driven her since to see if it\'s worked. Anyway, don\'t despair yet, the rex\'s reputation for reliability seems to make people throw money at them before they go through the basics themselves. Hopefully it\'ll be something really simple. Best of Luck! :wave

[Oedipus Rex]

Originally posted by MillSpeed
Just thought I\'d jump in and offer my 2 cents. The fact that she seems to be losing coolant when she\'s cold defo suggests that there\'s a ruptured pipe somewhere in the system. Like Clive says, the turbo coolant pipes are a prime candidate purely because they get such a hammering from all that heat down there. Obviously when the engine heats up the coolant is just gonna p*ss out! If your coolant seals had failed to the point that they made a visible difference to the water level, when you started her up you\'d be able to see a steady stream of bubbles flowing to the surface in the filler neck (this is known as the \'champagne test\'). Also take a look at the condition of the pressure cap on the AST. If the seal is compromised then as soon as she heats up she\'ll just push all of her coolant into the overflow tank and then won\'t draw any back. Any doubt just change it, they\'re only about £4 from any good motor factor. The bubbling/gurgling sound you mentioned seems to be normal, I think you\'ll find that most rex\'s do it. I\'ve put a higher pressure AST cap on mine in an attempt to prevent this but I haven\'t driven her since to see if it\'s worked. Anyway, don\'t despair yet, the rex\'s reputation for reliability seems to make people throw money at them before they go through the basics themselves. Hopefully it\'ll be something really simple. Best of Luck! :wave

Cheers mate, really appreciate that reply.

Feeling a little better at the moment after a few more tests. I\'ve realised that liquid is coming out of the front centre somewhere, and definitely not out of the overflow. Neither does it get forced out of the main filler neck if I take the cap off shortly after starting her up. the the reason it appeared to be dripping from further back was because I had it jacked up. So I\'m hoping it\'s just a split rad / loose rad pipe or similar. It drips even with the engine off but as soon as I switch it on it just ****es out. I\'m guessing (hoping) that as soon as the system is pressurised, it is forcing more out through the pipe / crack. Would seem to make sense to me.

anyhow got it booked in with Pip now so I\'ll soon find out one way or another.

[rx7-bling]

Hi,

If you really cant find any splits, crack, faulty cap etc, etc...

Try flushing the cooling system completely.
This site is good.

http://www.rx7.org/Robinette/reliabiltiy.htm

[Oedipus Rex]

Split Rad

[MillSpeed]

I knew it would be something simple! I bet you\'re relieved. Well there\'s your excuse to go out and buy a shiny new up-rated alloy rad.

[Oedipus Rex]

Originally posted by MillSpeed
I knew it would be something simple! I bet you\'re relieved. Well there\'s your excuse to go out and buy a shiny new up-rated alloy rad.

Yeah!!!!!!!!

got her back yesterday with a new rad and a major service. Driving beautifully. Had a play with an m3 SMG on the way back. Honours were even.


god I love this car.