Another coolant problem, straight after service. Any advice?

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:30 am

Once again Harry ...I must agree...It does sound like the water pump is leaking. It does seem strange that it has gone "so soon" after having the belts changed. Perhaps it was on the way out and new belts were the last straw.
part2... how tight are the 2 belts that are close together and run round the alternator/water pump? You should be able to deflect them about half a inch in the long run.(rough guess)
Whatever you do ...when you get a new pump fitted (if that's what it is) make sure the correct bleeding is carried out once again. If the pump is leaking coolant out it could well be letting air in.

part2 · Post by **part2** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:36 am

Thanks fellas,

At work now. I'll check the belts when I get home.

Post by **Ian** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:06 pm

Let us know how you get on part2.

part2 · Post by **part2** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:29 pm

Checked the belts earlier, I can pull them up just a little. I wouldn't have a clue tbh.

Still stuck getting it anywhere, will get some quotes on the possibe new water pump tomorrow.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:54 pm

Lift the passenger seat and run the engine up to temp so the system gets pressure. Now (Careful not to touch the belts) look just around the belts and (careful now) put your hand over the top. You may well feel/see spray. if this is the case it is the water pump. after stopping the engine you will see drips coming off the bottom/front of the engine.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:58 pm

Any garage should be able to fit a water pump if you provide one. Go armed with the bleeding fact sheet and hopefull they will do the job properly. However watch the level/temp on the way home and then I would bleed it myself as you have already done just in case. Doing it this way you could use a very local garage.

part2 · Post by **part2** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:56 pm

Just checked, definitely the radiator.

Ralph wrote:The radiators sometimes leak from the top were the plastic
header tank is clamped to the radiator core.

Well done back in post 4! exactly what seems to be happening.

So, how much can I expect to spend now?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:01 pm

I had the same problem...impossible to repair.

Radiators are available from EBay for about £85 with next day delivery (no doubt someone will get other prices?).

I'm no mechanic but I fitted my own (garage was shut for holidays) in a couple of hours without any problems. I also wrote an idiots DIY factsheet which is in the members area.

If the rad comes with a small pipe beside the cap (not all do) blank it off.

Good luck

H

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:32 pm

..and read up on threads too - I seem to recall some suppliers should be avoided as the product was iffy. I would think the likes of Bongobits are safe if not the cheapest. But I reckon you could do this on the drive yourself and then tackle the fill and bleed too (happy to help if I'm around). You'd be a bit older and a lot wiser after that and it'd save cash and hassle getting it over to Adrian. Weird that it should go at precisely that time. Was any work being done near it, or involving it.

part2 · Post by **part2** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:45 pm

No Mike, I think to put things straight Adrian is in the clear, none of the other work is anywhere near the radiator.

A new one on bongobits is over £200, although they're £158 on ebay.

Adrian said he can get me one for £135+£50 to fit+VAT. For the sake of £50 I think I'll leave it to him.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:07 am

Sounds like a plan Pt2 - take care going over there, watch coolant level etc.

Good luck. Tally Ho!

coco bongo · Post by **coco bongo** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:00 pm

I cant believe that radiators are that dear!, I got mine from Plymouth Radiators (the garage got it for me). I think it was no more than £130 ish which i thought was not too bad.

I know you live up country but if anyone does need one, try and see if they would mail order or something. He's always got Bongo rads in stock.

I also got told by the garage that did my van, that it was slightly bigger than the original one.

Just a thought.

mellyarnold · Post by **mellyarnold** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:33 pm

Hi Part 2

Sorry to hear about your predicament

I use Adrian all the time for both our vehicles, never had any reason to doubt his work at all, he's a good guy and knows his bongo's.

This thread has spurred me on to get a coolant change and think about an alarm though, guess its one of those things where you just never know......

Good luck and hope all works out

part2 · Post by **part2** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:56 pm

Thanks folks.

You are right about Adrian, he does know his stuff and I'm confident THIS HASN'T HAPPENED DURING THE SERVICE (just so people know

)

Managed to drive it up there this morning, hardly lost any coolant and the radiator stayed cold.

The problem is a little more complex. A repair has been done at some point somewhere near the thermostat, or something to do with it. It has been a bit of botch up something to do with a thin wire thats been cut in half and not properly connected which has meant the guage on the dash hasn't been working properly. I'm not sure.

Anyway, radiator still needed.

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:36 pm

the thin wire whats been cut will be the temperature sender wire