13 replies to this topic

[Cliffy]

Mas627, on May 7 2010, 08:08 PM, said:

Hi All, Hope everyone is all good!

I noticed the coolant reservoir was completely empty after I went for a ten min drive, even though the day before I had full coolant level. The car doesn't overheat but when I put the heater on, the temperature drops a fair bit but a lot of heat is coming out of the vents. At first I thought my car was just dried out, so I topped up the coolant took it for another ten mins drive, popped the hood and found the reservoir empty again. I can't see any obvious leaks and the oil isn't foamy so the coolant hasn't gotten into the engine.

Oh forgot to mention when I first drove the car today, I heard a gurgling/slurp sound.

Any ideas why all of a sudden my coolant goes instantly?

It's a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa.

Thanks in advance.

Have you checked to see if the passenger footwell is wet? If so, your heater matrix is probably leaking. This would also explain the inefficiency of the air blowers inside the car.

[Cliffy]

Mas627, on May 9 2010, 02:33 PM, said:

Yep checked the car out properly yesterday and found a wet patch on the carpet on the drivers side. Looks like I need a new heater matrix, do you know roughly how much it is for a replacement?

To be honest I'm not sure, but supply and fit would cost somewhere in the region of £100 I'd imagine.

[Wally]

ignore this

Edited by Wally, 09 May 2010 - 07:21 PM.

[Cliffy]

Wally, on May 10 2010, 01:17 AM, said:

Well the coolant has to be going somehwre and if it's not over your feet or into the oil galleries, then it's either going out the tailpipe as steam (split or wicking gasket, cracked head) or through an overflow (too high system pressure for the relief valve).

Quote

Yep checked the car out properly yesterday and found a wet patch on the carpet on the drivers side. Looks like I need a new heater matrix, do you know roughly how much it is for a replacement?

It would appear it is going over his/her feet, Wally.

However, the OP describes a "wet patch" which does sound a tad on the minor side, lol...If it had dumped all of its coolant in the footwell I'd be looking for terms such as "soaking" or "drenched"

I recon it needs checking out properly anyway.

Edited by Cliffy, 09 May 2010 - 07:25 PM.

[Wally]

Yeah I wrote the speil and then figured the core leak should probably be addressed first as the decompressed system will boil water off rapidly.

[Cliffy]

Mas627, on May 10 2010, 08:26 PM, said:

Got it sorted out today replaced the heater matrix and fixed the leak.



The mechanic said the heater matrix was corroded, as to where the coolant went off must have evaporated in the heater core or something

So I was right then? Yipee, I succesfuly diagnosed another fault...

[raj1984]

The fan is supposed to come on when you turn the AC on. This helps to cool the high pressure side of the AC system. The fluctuation in temperature could be a completely separate issue. May even be just an ECT sensor. It would be easier if we had more information. Engine size, actual temperatures, is the AC cold, etc.

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Edited by Chris V., 06 December 2011 - 07:55 AM.

[bmw330xi]

I would check your oil pan to see if your are getting leakage through the cooling blocks in the engine block.




Need help with your Automotive Maintenance? Get help here ---> Automotive Technician Help

Edited by Chris V., 06 December 2011 - 07:55 AM.
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[mrtkn01]

Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) out stating that anytime you replace a radiator on one of these vehicles, you should check for electrolysis in the cooling system. According to Ford.





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Edited by Chris V., 06 December 2011 - 07:56 AM.

[Chris Martyn]

Almost same kind of situation I am facing nowadays. And most probably the same problem is there. The trouble with my car is, it stops in mid way and then take too long to restart. Sometimes it doesn't even start ones its stopped. Once I faced such such a problem and there was no mechanic around and it created big problem for me. I hope you will be able to suggest me what should I do in order to get rid of this problem.

Edited by Chris V., 03 January 2012 - 04:19 PM.
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[clairehunter92]

Buy a Haynes manual for a Vauxhall Corsa and see if it has any hints and tips you could use.

Edited by Chris V., 21 February 2012 - 10:08 AM.
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