Radiator Again

[pimp1chez]

Changed the radiator 3 weeks ago ,as i had a leak ,thought nothing of it .thought a stone hit it.

friday just gone ,thought i could see a leak under the car ,checked the coolant tank it was ok .

today on my way to get a k&n typhoon i won on eBay ,the temp shot up ,pulled over on m60 ,there was f-all in the coolant tank ,put some water in and got home.

now before i pulled over the heatin was tsport warm , now with water in there its cold :S

i was thinking the radiator leaking as its in exactly the same spot the water is collecting (nearside undertray) under the radiator support beam.

so iv checked all hoses and usual stuff ,defo not a head gasket issue , and cant figure it out

i was thinking the heater matrix is totally dead now ,but wouldnt that leak in the passenger footwell ?

anyone have a cooling system schematic that i can have a look at.

[oldcodger]

Hey,

Don't have a schematic but a couple of things,

If the cabin heater matrix was leaking it could be running into the cabin or possibly into the plastic drip tray which has a pipe going though the floor on the passenger side, just under the carpet by the bottom air outlet; its normally for the a/c condensation to drain way from.

So check its not leaking out of that.

Your radiator cap is a safety valve so it could be leaking from there under pressure or if its lost its seal etc. - did you replace it with the new radiator ?

Perhaps try and put some kitchen towel around things and just run the engine while stationary and see if you can spot the leak.

Your cold gauge could be either / or a failed sensor or possibly a big air lock still in your system, when filling up did you squeeze the big top and bottom hoses to help push the fluid around the block and purge the air locks as you filled up ?

Also check the thermostat, they always tend to fail when other things also go wrong.

hth

[nrgizerbunny]

A few things to check, first make sure your aircon is not on otherwise you'll get water condensing and then appearing on the floor.

Are you sure you've got a leak in the radiator because a stone would have to pierce the air con condenser before it would damage the radiator?

Check the oil for signs of mayonnaise

[mr-p]

you could always pressure test the coolant system, will be much easier to spot the leak. sounds like because its emptied and then was topped up its now got an air lock as the heaters are blowing cold. normally when a heater matrix goes it makes strange noises or the cabin gets like a Turkish bath

[pimp1chez]

ok just limped it to the garage ,was interesting negotiating match day traffic .

radiator cap is fine ,no water around the floor so technically that should rule the matrix out.

on the radiator is there a relief valve ,because when i twisted something that felt like that i thought that fixed it ,but to no avail .

i suppose il find out tommorow ,not lookin forward catchin the peasant-wagon to work in the morning

[pimp1chez]

turned out it was a tiny tear in the bottom hose ,and escalated over time ,40quid and job done