Help - VXR8 with indigestion?

Help - VXR8 with indigestion?

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jamesr321

Original Poster:

138 posts

171 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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Last night after driving home from work there was a burbling noise coming from the engine bay, which according to the girlfriend sounding like the car had bad indigestion!

On closer inspection it was coming from the front of the car around the radiator area and sounded like boiling water. All the gauges were reading ok but it lasted for a good 5mins after turning the engine off.

Anyone with more mechanical knowledge than me (everyone, well, except the girlfriend) any idea what it is / if its something I need to worry about?

Cheers!
PS I best stop cooking for the her if she thinks that's a normal sound for indigestion! hehe

PPS: Whilst Im on here, the alternator seems to be playing up to, when setting off the voltage dial moves between 12-15 with "Alternator" flashing up on the dash when it drops to 12. Only lasts for first 15ish mins of journey then seems to sort its self out. Anyone else had this?

mik_ok

1,568 posts

241 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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A few have suffered alternatir issues - around £300 to replace as I understand it.

Battery issues are far more common - have you used the diagnostic mode to check the battery health? See Gary's post in this thread if you dont know what I am on about.

It does sound like your coolant might have been boiling. Checked the expansion tank levels? Still getting strong heat from the heater? (Obviously in this weather you 'll need to turn it up to check that)

pah250

3,269 posts

155 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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Oddly I experienced what sounds like exactly the same thing last weekend. Had been driving the car for around an hour before hand (and not pushing it either). Then was stood in standing traffic with engine ticking over for a good 5 minutes before parking up. I noticed the same thing and popped the bonnet to hear what sounded like bubbles being blown through water coming from the engine bay. All my dials and temperatures were also reading normal.

Haven't noticed it since. Very odd.

EssexVXR8

1,790 posts

187 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
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Air con after turning engine off can make those sort of noises

jamesr321

Original Poster:

138 posts

171 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
quotequote all
mik_ok said:
A few have suffered alternatir issues - around £300 to replace as I understand it.

Battery issues are far more common - have you used the diagnostic mode to check the battery health? See Gary's post in this thread if you dont know what I am on about.

It does sound like your coolant might have been boiling. Checked the expansion tank levels? Still getting strong heat from the heater? (Obviously in this weather you 'll need to turn it up to check that)
Thanks for your reply!
Battery was replaced last year, used the diagnostic mode (for first time!) and battery level is at 70%. Will monitor it.

Ran car for 5 mins with heater on, getting hot air but on diagnostics the coolant temp rose to 98 deg. Checked coolant level and its ok.

Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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Mine does exactly the same. So is it coolant or air con?
Sounds too general to be air con. The noise seems evident in several areas of the engine bay.

Guages all reading okay.




ARAF

20,759 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th June 2015
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Have you all checked the water level in the radiator (when cold), or just the header tanks?

BTW, as it cools, the car will suck water back from the expansion tank. Maybe it was this you heard?

S0updr4g0n

146 posts

111 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
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Had the same thing happen - same burbling noise. Radiator was full, no leaks. I did read that a faulty cap could cause something like this but mine only did it once ages ago so I keep an eye on it and if it happens again I might change the radiator cap to see.

Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
ARAF said:
Have you all checked the water level in the radiator (when cold), or just the header tanks?

BTW, as it cools, the car will suck water back from the expansion tank. Maybe it was this you heard?
Will check rad level.
Its not the sucking noise from cooling its deffo bubbling/boiling as soon as you turn engine off.

jamesr321

Original Poster:

138 posts

171 months

Friday 19th June 2015
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Mine still does this and has done since I posted this in 2013! MF have looked at it and couldnt find anything wrong. Bit odd as it never did it for the first 3 years of ownership.

Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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mik_ok said:
A few have suffered alternatir issues - around £300 to replace as I understand it.

Battery issues are far more common - have you used the diagnostic mode to check the battery health? See Gary's post in this thread if you dont know what I am on about.

It does sound like your coolant might have been boiling. Checked the expansion tank levels? Still getting strong heat from the heater? (Obviously in this weather you 'll need to turn it up to check that)
Abs/tc/check engine light came on again today.
had a look in the engineers menu. Battery was 11.5v not running. Battery condition 59.8%. I assume that's not good.

Coolanttemp was 98*, i started the engine and gave it a few blaps, it quickly rose to 101*. Now under pressure that might not.be too bad, but if not, that would explain the boiling and bubbling.

So its new battery and new cap? Is it thencap for the expansion tank i need? Cant see a rad cap. frown

ARAF

20,759 posts

223 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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Rad cap is black. Should be on the top right of the radiator.

Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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ARAF said:
Rad cap is black. Should be on the top right of the radiator.
So it is...
to anyone who has s bubbling coolant - please don't ignore it. I forgot all about mine untill it ran dry somewhere between here and Bristol yesterday.... luckily i was able to pull over straight away, even though the hand book says you can drive for an hour on reduced power... eekscratchchin
New rad cap ordered. Lets see what happens. Oh and which coolant type is it please and how many litres for a full fill? I've tried searching and got no where...

Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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12 litres full capacity according to the Fish. Use pink longlife if its pink and blue if its blue. Don't mix the two...

Oh and check yer rad caps folks... seems mine was a little flat around the seal, plus if you put it in your mouth you could blow straight through it. The new one you can hear it shut.



Wolfracer

2,074 posts

206 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Wolfracer said:
12 litres full capacity according to the Fish. Use pink longlife if its pink and blue if its blue. Don't mix the two...
mix concentrate 50:50 with clean water.

Oh and check yer rad caps folks... seems mine was a little flat around the seal, plus if you put it in your mouth you could blow straight through it. The new one you can hear it shut.

snowwolf

11,503 posts

175 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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Nice bit of info and pics to show knackered O Ring too