24 replies to this topic

[Mark H]

Send me a message with the accounts, I can just merge them for you.

[Gary ZBJ]

Can you tell if the Rad is leaking with out taking the clam off?

I have an early S2 and it is starting to loose water a bit, nothing major but as it is a daily driver for me I don't want anything to go unexpectedly

Can the front wheel arches be removed to gain visibility???

Gary

[DeanB]

Gary have you looked for puddles under the car? My s2 was losing coolant, but the puddles were under the rear of the car. Turned out it was the inlet manifold gasket that was shot. Gav at Unit 4 replaced it for me.
At a previous service a tell tale trace of red on the block suggested the water pump was knackered and leaking a bit, so I had a new one fitted at the same time as the cam belt.
I presume you have checked there is no "mayonnaise" on the oil filler cap, suggesting HGF?
I am also told plastic radiator end caps fail, but I have also heard you notice spots of coolant on the windscreen if this happens.

And finally, check your hoses - I had the front right rad hose go, but it was a sudden failure, it didn't weep (I did.).

Dean

[Gary ZBJ]

Yeah, no "mayo" and no puddles anywhere I can see so I suspect it is getting burnt off, but thought the rad end caps were worth looking at.

It has lost maybe a pint over the last 2 months, so not massive amounts, and I've driven maybe 2,000 miles in that time as I use the car every day.

Other thing that may (or may not) be weird, is that there seems to be a lot of pressure in the system. I have replaced the pressure cap but sometimes I think the coolant is completely empty, open the pressure cap and it comes back up to the min level.

[nick_j007]

Nick Jones, on 12 May 2012 - 10:24 AM, said:

Thanks G!

Ok, so two things I'd like to know for sure are:

1) Can radiator hoses be changed at a later date if needed without removing the clam?

2) Can the fans be replaced at a later date if needed without removing the clam?

Oh and 3) Does the 111r have 1 or 2 fans please?

This will allow me to sort my shopping cart with EP. re mounting kits and so on

Thanks again.

Nick

Also, I seem to have two blasted sign in accounts going on here!
Who do I speak to to delete everything and sign up a fresh?!

Sorry to be a pest. Can anyone answer 1 & 2 above please?

Thanks! Nick

[nick_j007]

Ok sorted I think. Hoses can be done without the clam off later on, they should be ok anyway.
Radiators Fans can just about be fitted without clam removal and again should be ok anyway.

2 fans on aircon Elise.

Edited by nick_j007, 21 May 2012 - 10:29 AM.

[Martin R]

Nick, glad you are sorted. Gary might not be good news. Try the following, take it for a good run to get it up to temp. Leave for about 3 hours to cool and slowly remove the coolant cap. What happens ? Does it give a great big hiss and coolant rushes back into the coolant bottle ?

Also are there any signs of dried coolant on the outside of the coolant bottle around the cap ?

It might be worth starting another thread if any of the above is happening HTH

[nick_j007]

Well I picked the car up yesterday morning and I'm very happy with the work done by Paul Matty's. Had a decent hand over from the mechanic that worked on the car and it was a pleasure talking it all over with him as he was genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the process. Satisfying my slightly obsessive mind for detail.

He said it was as well I provided a new radiator as he would have called asking to replace it anyway as early signs of leakage were indeed showing. So a new condenser for the air con which is what it went in for. It was shot to pieces (pic attached). I have cold air for the first time!

https://dl.dropbox.c...70/IMAG1875.jpg

New blue Pagid RS42 Brake Pads all round that felt solid even as I dabbed them rolling off the drive. Excellent. New braided brake hoses to boot!

TRD Induction kit is um, well, loud! A small part of me hopes it's not too loud for my ears. No pleasing some. On 2nd cam if roars!

Front wheels are now balanced correctly and along with a back to Lotus Geo the car feels bloomin good I have to say. Shame it was wet when driving home. I still managed to frighten myself a little and experienced a bit of 'buttock clenching' as I went round the corners in standing water .

Thanks to everyone for the input to get this all sorted.

I'm now ready for my Alps tour: http://www.petrolhea...s/alpine-north/ !!

Nick

Just to ask. When I got the car back in the garage yesterday I noticed the temp was quite low at 91 degrees after hard driving. The new rads run lower, so that figures. I noticed for the first time though the fan running at full tilt when the car was at a standstill and showing 91 degrees. Stopped when I turned the engine off. Does that sound ok to you?

Before the car would run to about 105 IIRC and only about then would the fan kick in.

Nick

Edited by nick_j007, 12 June 2012 - 02:25 PM.

[jimbo07g41]

With the aircon cars you have a second fan that runs if your using the air con.


This is regardless of the water temp.

Edited by jimbo07g41, 12 June 2012 - 06:49 PM.

[nick_j007]

jimbo07g41, on 12 June 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

With the aircon cars you have a second fan that runs if your using the air con.


This is regardless of the water temp.

That explains it then

Thank you.