Coolant Leak Updated!

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MacK
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Coolant Leak Updated!

Post by MacK » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:45 pm

Just back from 5-a-side football and was taking the soft-top out of the boot to re-fit and I noticed the coolant level was low, below the low mark.

Then when putting the top on I noticed a drip on the ground at the drivers door. Knelt down to check and found lots more drips from the under-tray bolts!

The under-tray is all wet and the drivers side wheel arch is all wet. Near side wheel arch has some wet but not as bad. Looking underneath I can make out the coolant coming from the front under-tray at the drivers side and was being swept back along the car.

I've had a check in the service panel at the drivers side and everything is dry and the pipe onto the rad has no signs of leaks. In the front 'scoop' where the air goes into the bottom of the rad is all dry..

Any ideas what could be leaking? I'll not manage to get the under-tray of tonight but will try tomorrow.

Standard 02 S2

Thanks John :cry:
Last edited by MacK on Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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mac
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Post by mac » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:49 pm

John,

There are two pipes, one into the rad on the pax side and one out of the rad on the drivers side. You might need to take the wheel arch liners out and check that it's not weeping from the pipe.

Also

Check for leaks around the drivers side of the engine (bulkhead side) above the alternator.

The fact that it's hitting the undertray could be giving a false impression though. The other place to check is the elbow where the temp sensors are located.



Mac
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robin
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Post by robin » Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:48 pm

You might also want to check the pipe where it goes back into the chassis on the passenger side - these hoses often come loose.

To repair requires removal of the front undertray (good luck!).

Cheers,
Robin

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MacK
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Post by MacK » Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:59 pm

Thanks for the replies.

I have managed to find the source of the problem...

It is the 'jubilee' clip on the drivers side pipe where it joins onto the chasis pipe in the front crash structure area.

I'm just about to get a new 'jubilee' clip and fit it, the clip seems okay and the pipe doesn't appear to be split, but the position the clip was in on the pipe doesn't look 100%, so I'm getting a new and better quality clip to replace it and re-fit the pipe.

Can I just add in some anti-freeze (of the correct type/grade/colour) and top up with water. And to fill it properly do I 'need' to use a pressure testing tool as described in the service manual, or will topping up the tank (with return blead open) and when filled running for a short time and re-checking a few times get me nearly there, as in near enough to be able to drive to a garage and get it checked properly. (Or to someone who can check properly, any recommendations)?


John

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Shug
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Post by Shug » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:24 pm

John - if there's still water in the expansion tank you'll be okay topping up with water. No need to worry about air in the system unless the tank's been emptied - so just tighten the clip.

If you feel the clip's dodgy, then a whole system bleed will be necessary. Good info on this in the FAQ - http://www.elise-faq.info
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mac
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Post by mac » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:48 pm

Just remeber your latex glove :wink:
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Shug
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Post by Shug » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:49 pm

mac wrote:Just remeber your latex glove :wink:
:shock:

Not in public, man!
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1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
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mac
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Post by mac » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:53 pm

Heh, What and where I use my rubber glove and airline is of no one else's concern 8)
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MacK
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Post by MacK » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:21 pm

Thanks for the replies and info.. Hopefully I've fixed it now.

I managed to fit a new jubilee clip without disconnecting the pipe and topped up with about 2 litres of tap water. Ran the engine and warmed up, kept engine running til;l fan on rad cut in a couple of times, and all seems well.

No drips or signs of other leaks..

Cheers

John

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