Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 01:27 am, by: Patrick Robinson(Islandsoarer)
Hey guys, yesterday as I was driving home I noticed my temp gauge started creeping up slowly and then hit the hot spot and started flashing. I pulled over immediately and shut off the car to let it cool. I popped the hood and the overflow bottle is smoking like a mother. I didn't see any leaks from any hoses. As soon as I shut off and popped the hood I opened up the radiator cap and there was nothing. I've did searches and there are so many possibilities, but where do i start. When I first got the car about a year ago I had to replace the thermostat. A few weeks back I had to change the fan. I bought the fan from a mechanic, second hand. He gave me the clutch along with it so I just put in the clutch too. During the process of exchange I realized the radiator pissing when I squeezed the top hose. I had some epoxy, so i mixed it up and patched the spot. When the car overheated, I had assumed that the spot where the epoxy was had sprung a leak again but it hadn't. I assuming that I should start with changing the radiator cap first, or should I just put in a new radiator. Now, question, Should the engine be totally cooled before you put in coolant or water, because after about 10-15 minutes I had put coolant in so that I could drive it home. At this point I fear for the worst because I am trying to get my car sold and the last thing I need is a bunch of money to be spent on repairing. Please help!!!
Ben Socratous Goo Roo SA I am the fibreglass/kevlar/carbonfibre king!
Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 01:52 am, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
What type of epoxy did you use? Most cheap stuff (and I mean sub $200) won't handle any thing over 75 degrees, regardless of what it says on the packet.
There is a million places it could be leaking from, I think I have had most of them on my car at one stage or another :/ First major leak I had was out of the water pump housing. Next came from a split top tank. Following this came a split top hose, then a split heater hose, then the head (previous owner of the car didn't care much about maintenance)!!!
If you can't see the leak easily, or at all, I'd bite the bullet and take it to a radiatior shop and get them to do a leak test on it.
Cooler motor the better when topping coolant up. If you have run bone dry, and fill it up with a hot motor, you run the risk of cracking something as the cold coolant rapidly contracts the hot metal it touches.
You running toyota red coolant? Best thing about toyota coolant is that it dries an off creamy/brown colour, making identifying leaks quite easy.
Other things to check would be the overflow bottle, for any signs of leaks. Also have a look at the hose that connects the radiator to the overflow bottle.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 08:22 am, by: Danny Dinh(Xtc)
do a pressure test and you'll see where the leak is. That's if you have the tools though. It sounds like there was not enough coolant and your cooling system started to have air in it causing an airblock.
Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 02:24 pm, by: Steven Anderson(Cusscuss)
Ben Socratous wrote on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 01:52 am:
As soon as I shut off and popped the hood I opened up the radiator cap and there was nothing.
Holy •••••••
Dont ever, ever, ever do that again!!!
If you did that in a car with water in the radiator you would be in the hospital now with severe burns all over your arms/face.
When it gets hot and you have the water pump moving the water around the system is under pressure, when you open that cap you release all that pressure straight onto yourself at 100+ deg C (pressure ups the boiling point of water)
Ben Socratous Goo Roo SA I am the fibreglass/kevlar/carbonfibre king!
Monday, September 22, 2008 - 06:33 pm, by: Mark Zimmer(Markzimmer)
Holy ***k, steven's right, neeever take of the radiator cap after cars over heated, and if you must feel the top of the whole radiator to make sure its not hot. However if there was nothing in the radiator and when you opened it nothing shot out there is clearly not pressure circulating, make sure you have enough coolant in your system, also after your car is warmed up check if any leaks are dripping underneath. When putting coolant in I prefer too have the car running and put the heater on full blast so air pockets do not form, then take it for a spin around the block, come back and top it all up for good measure.
Monday, September 22, 2008 - 09:37 pm, by: Jeff Smith(Mozzie)
Steven Anderson wrote on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 02:24 pm:
If you did that in a car with water in the radiator you would be in the hospital now with severe burns all over your arms/face.
Ouch..... Brings back bad memories.... I did exactly that on a forklift but I let it sit for half hour then lifted the cap and still got burnt.... 2deg burn to my for arm and got the scar to prove it! Not a smart thing to do indeed!
Monday, September 22, 2008 - 11:20 pm, by: Patrick Robinson(Islandsoarer)
nah guys, i didn't open it as soon as I shut off the engine.....I waited about 2 minutes But yeah I know the consequences of it. Usually I would get a rag and turn the cap to let off the pressure and steam and that way it seems to cool down quicker at least I think.
Any way my brother is a mechanic. He's a little more in depth than I am but he puts me through the ropes with any car I get. He points out to me exactly where the problem might be and guess what...."I".....me, I have to fix it. Big brothers are no fun.
Any whoooo, So I topped off the radiator this morning and put a jug of H20 in the car just in case. From home to my son's school and then to work is about half an hour to an hour drive. While I ran in to drop off my son I left the car running so that I would see if it would run hot again. Got to work and it wasn't running hot. I shut off the car and looked underneath and hey....I saw a little leak. I let it cool and topped off the radiator again. It took maybe a quarter jug of coolant if that. I assuming that while the car is running obviously the car will force water out by pressure.
Now my question to you guys is how many flikkin radiator hoses are running through these M-F-ing cars.
I thought it mighta been leaking through the exhaust at first but I ain't gettin no smoke, I thought water might have been mixing with the oil but it ain't and I ain't gettin no chocolate milk so I think I'm good, but keep ya fingers crossed for me.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 12:00 am, by: Mark Zimmer(Markzimmer)
Christian Zimmer wrote on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 06:47 pm:
lol, I would usually say dont listen to mark...he's not the smartest kid...
but in this case, he has experience (2 water pumps later hahaha)
Gosh, cousins are so nice.
Definitely good that its not mixing, head gaskets are a pain. Where about is it dripping from? the front? middle? back of block? Best thing too do is get it on some ramps and you will see where the leak is in no time.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:58 am, by: Patrick Robinson(Islandsoarer)
THANK YOU MATTHEW.....I NEEDED THAT. I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE SEARCHING BUT ANYWAYS.....I'LL DO IT.
So I went by the auto store across from where i work and they have a water pump there. I got some pics of it so you guys can let me know if it's the right thing.
I'm thinking about changing the timing belt too. Anything else I should change while I'm at it.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 04:30 am, by: Matthew Standage(Matstandage)
thats the one yeah you should change the timing belt at the same time since you have to take it off anyway maybe change the thermostat at the same time i did
Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 08:08 am, by: Patrick Robinson(Islandsoarer)
THAT DAMNED PUMP DOESN'T LINE UP. WHAT DO I DO? As I took the old pump off it cracked in 2 in my hand. That thing must have never been changed. Is there anyway to line up or should I just exchange it. I also noticed that the new one had a little valve at the bottom, unlike the old one. What is that for?
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand Mercedes Benz SLK230 Kompressor
Sunday, September 28, 2008 - 11:34 am, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Patrick, if you take the part numbers I've listed above into the Toyota dealer, they will give/get you the right one...........OR the dudes across the road should/may have a cross reference cat-a-log to give ewe the correct pump-a-saurus!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 02:38 am, by: Patrick Robinson(Islandsoarer)
Would you know of an Aftermarket brand pump? The Toyota Dealer here doesn't keep them in stock and they wouldn't be able to order until they have enough people ordering more parts (that sucks) Lady said it could take 5 days to 2 weeks. In Bahamian time that's like 1 month.
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