Coolant

[willanddeb]

Hi
 
I have just bought an 1995 RX7 TYPE RS it has 45\'000 miles on the clock and a couple of times I have had a light and a buzzer telling me the coolant is low, but when I check the dipstick it seems ok. The company I bought it off said they replaced all the fluids in the car so could it be an airlock as each time the buzzer has gone off the level seems ok but I still put some in just encase, then the warning stops :3Confused
 
I have also done the test to see if there are any bubbles but am I looking for loads of bubbles or just fine bubbles or so much it blows the water out?
 
Also the rev counter has stopped working over 4000RPM but I have read that this is common?
 
 
but other than that the cars is lovely
 
Thanks Will

[allstaruk]

Dipstick?

Do you mean the overflow resoivior behind the wing, that not where you need to be checking the coolant there is a filler neck at the top point on the engine by the alternator, if the level drops more that about an inch from that that is what causes the buzzer to go off.

AXD

[willanddeb]

Oh (all the manuals are in japanese) is that the washer bottle behind the light then?
 
How much would you expect this level to change with use or should it be a case of filling it up, start the engine, shut it down and check the level again?
 
I am just worried that it has a leak and is using water.
 
Thanks
 
Will

[allstaruk]

That bottle is the cooland overflow, for piece of mind, I\'d bleed the system. so fill the one you\'ve been checking to the mid point, open the ast and make sure there is coolant in there, fill the main filler neck to the brim and get a mate holding some coolant so you can pour more in, there is a coolant hose on the back of the throttle body, pull this off and keep filling with cooland untill you get a steady stream out of it, once this happend plug it back in and you have a bleed system

[willanddeb]

Thats great thanks very much, is incorrect coolant bleeding a common cause of the light and buzzer?
 
Will

[allstaruk]

Common no, but it is a cause of it, if you\'ve got major doubts get it pressure tested or take the poor approach, cut a 2l coke bottle in half, put it in the filler, fill with water so you can see it start the car and watch for bubbles.

Also check for any coolant leaks a tiny little spray is virtually undetectable in a hot bay.


A

[willanddeb]

Thanks very much for the help, am I looking for bubbles in the middle tank?  I have heard that the a coolant seal if damaged will produce them and what does it look like, is it just a fine fizz of bubbles? I will use your method of inserting a cut down coke bottle and I will have a really good look for any leaks.
 
Thanks
 
Will

[pearl_rex]

if a water seal is damaged you\'ll have what they call "champagne bubbles" pretty much self explanatory, if it fizzes up over the filler neck - you\'ve got problems!
hope this helps

[willanddeb]

I have just started the engine on the car and whilst studying the middle coolant tank (I think this is the one where you check for bubbles) I watched the the water level rise and slowly more and more really fine bubbles appeared, it wasn\'t like opening a bottle or Dr Pepper but there was a steady stream. Before the water level came over the top of the neck I put the lid back on.
 
Is this what you would expect to see if there is a seal problem?
 
 
Many thanks
 
Will