If a job's worth doing...

[steveiy]

Then you think a specialist might do it properly. <Fume>

I just had a new radiator put in my 4.5 Chimaera by a specialist TVR garage in the South West. I drove 90 miles to get there, spent hundreds of pounds on the job (that they recommended) and now what do I find?

I drive home and everything seems fine, but next time I take the car out, I don't get 20 miles before the temp gauge drops to zero and, guess what: no more coolant in the expansion tank. They must have forgotten to bleed the radiator. Or worse.

I don't really want to hear the answer to this, but what kind of damage could I be looking at here?

[EJmec]

Sounds like there was still some air in the system. I really would have thought this would have been sorted before the carwas sent out, it is possible sometimes for the air to be trapped and not become free until a fair bit of driving, have you tried topping up ? and checking no further damage ? Why was the radiator changed was it leaking or was there cooling problems previously

[steveiy]

The radiator was changed because the matrix had been damaged by stones. The car used to run at 80C most of the time, climbing up to 90C in traffic queues. It never went above 90, I was happy to keep the old radiator but had it changed on the garage's recommendation.

Is it really normal to lose ALL the fluid in the expansion tank? And for the temp gauge to read zero? That's one hell of an airlock IMHO.

[dumnonii]

If all was well before it does sound like it hadn't been bled properly - best go back to who fitted it or have it checked out elsewhere. If it just needs a bleed then straightforward to do I shouldn't drive it until taken advice though

[gruffgriff]

Had a similar problem with my Griff`s rad. It was clearly damaged and leaking so local specialist took it out and used their regular `supplier to motorsport teams` to fix it. Expansion tank level dropped with no obvious leaks. It took a few weeks for the leak that had to be there to get big enough to be seen. Up-shot is that the rad wasn`t repaired properly that time, and my specialist had to fight my/our case when their supplier claimed it was new damage. All OK now, but moral is don`t rule out the rad still leaking.....

[steveiy]

Thank you for sharing this, I hope your engine wasn't damaged by the expansion tank emptying. I'm scared stiff by the idea that mine might have been.

The plain fact is that my radiator was not leaking before I had it "fixed". I maybe used 1 litre of coolant in 2000 miles of driving. This brand new (not re-cored) radiator has used the whole lot in 150 miles.

[steveiy]

Well, a (slightly) snotty letter appears to have spurred the garage into action and they are sending down a truck as we speak.

For those who have emailed me asking for the name of the place, please excuse me if I do not name and shame just yet - I need to wait to see how the matter is resolved.

Edited to add: Of course I won't post the name of the garage on pistonheads whatever happens.



>> Edited by steveiy on Monday 9th January 12:11

[rev-erend]

Steveiy,

I've done this job myself and believe me - even after bleeding the rad & heater matrix : it's still possible for loose pockets of air to still exist for a day or so - causing you to loose fuild.

You really should just stay calm and give the garage a call and explain your promlem.

The mark of a good garage is the extent to which they will put themselves out to fix this for you.

Just getting on here and slaging people off without letting them have a change to make amends is just silly.

[steveiy]

rev-erend said:

I've done this job myself and believe me - even after bleeding the rad & heater matrix : it's still possible for loose pockets of air to still exist for a day or so - causing you to loose fuild.

This is comforting, but did your temp gauge ever drop to zero? That's one hell of an air pocket, as I believe I said before.

rev-erend said:

You really should just stay calm and give the garage a call and explain your promlem.

In fact I gave them two calls. One the day after boxing day and another last week. It took the letter before they decided to send the truck. I take the point about staying calm.

rev-erend said:

Just getting on here and slaging people off without letting them have a change to make amends is just silly.

I read that as a reproach. I'd better not comment except to say that I agree with your advice in principle.

[rev-erend]

I know it's tempting to just gas off on here but many of us here have owned TVR's for a long time and with experience you learn to just take a chill pill.

It easy to adopt the attitude - I paid 10K, 20K..50K for it and
it should be purfect but they are TVR's.

Even with servicing - everyone makes mistakes or parts fitted don't always work as planned.

If they sent a truck - then I guess they are doing the right thing. It must be said Christmas and New Year are not a good time to have a problem because of staffing etc..

[gruffgriff]

steveiy said:

Thank you for sharing this, I hope your engine wasn't damaged by the expansion tank emptying. I'm scared stiff by the idea that mine might have been. The plain fact is that my radiator was not leaking before I had it "fixed". I maybe used 1 litre of coolant in 2000 miles of driving. This brand new (not re-cored) radiator has used the whole lot in 150 miles.

Thanks for your concern but leak was slow enough to be top-uppable (?!) between journeys. Luckily, I was watching the level daily expecting some settling, but it just kept going down.... All is now well and the gauge reading and tank level is now back to it`s rock solid previous form.
I do hope you aren`t facing engine damage - your symptoms sound very extreme - but I`ve met long term owners whose cars regularly steam and boil on runs (their systems obviously not working 100%) without any worry to them. Hope you`re lucky too.