Advice on coolant reservoir please. Cooper 2003
Discussion
Hi folks, me with an issue again. Ok, this time, noted the coolant bottle (the one in the middle on the firewall bit) it was bone dry when I viewed the car, they said it was an expansion tank and was ok dry but topped it anyway. I have kept an eye on it and it gets low to then empty. But before I managed to keep a good log of its levels I had to put it back to the garage for 2 new control arm bushes and a clutch! So when home today, I noticed the coolant was back up to half full.
My question is, what is meant to happen in this bottle? I am really lost, the garage has spun me a yarn and I'm no motor mind so I'm asking you lot. I k ow they a prone to splitting hence a worry it is leaking it off, but as winter comes round I am worried if it is low it may crack if it freezes and do the engine damage. Please help my headache as I'm at a loss.
Olly
My question is, what is meant to happen in this bottle? I am really lost, the garage has spun me a yarn and I'm no motor mind so I'm asking you lot. I k ow they a prone to splitting hence a worry it is leaking it off, but as winter comes round I am worried if it is low it may crack if it freezes and do the engine damage. Please help my headache as I'm at a loss.
Olly
It dose not always mean a big problem but it is worth looking at. It should always have some water in it. The level dose change hot to cold by about 30mm but not empty to half full. The bottole have two problems, one they split and two the lid oppens veay easly. Both can get the water level down. Also check the pipes going to the bottole as they can rub and get small hols in them.
There other ways to get low water levels so do keep a look out. I hope it is one of the above.
There other ways to get low water levels so do keep a look out. I hope it is one of the above.
The temp Gauge in the car never goes above half way but the coolant bottle can be bone dry. The plate under it (silver looking heat thing) looked like it had been stained by coolant at some point, so either a leak or a overfill/spill? The pipes coming off it, daft question, should it have a clamp on it holding it to the bottle as it seems to be purely pusses on? How can I check for leaks etc is there any way of doing this?
I hope it's not another big problem.
I know this may sound really dense, but what do I put in this bottle? Is it neat coolant or do I top it up with tap water or dilute coolant down? I'm not familiar with this side of the car and so far the string of issues she's presented I'm wanting some knowledge In case I need it. I also took out an AA repair policy because I fear for my wallet. 1 month and so far, two control arm bushes a new clutch and window issues along with the coolant anomaly. Bar that the car is lovey and its a keeper but I just want to know a bit more about what to do and how to monitor/maintain things.
Thanks for your help
I hope it's not another big problem.
I know this may sound really dense, but what do I put in this bottle? Is it neat coolant or do I top it up with tap water or dilute coolant down? I'm not familiar with this side of the car and so far the string of issues she's presented I'm wanting some knowledge In case I need it. I also took out an AA repair policy because I fear for my wallet. 1 month and so far, two control arm bushes a new clutch and window issues along with the coolant anomaly. Bar that the car is lovey and its a keeper but I just want to know a bit more about what to do and how to monitor/maintain things.
Thanks for your help
Ours does the same, but I know this is due to a slightly leaky radiator. I top it up every couple of weeks and it's fine for a while. Whilst researching the fault, I found that thermostat housings are quite prone to cracking and leaking.
Have a google for Mini Cooper leaky thermostat housing and it comes up with quite a few posts.
I need to change the thermostat on ours anyway, but can't get to it due to a couple of stuck bolts. The Mrs will kill me if she has to drive to work in a car with a cold heater for much longer!
Have a google for Mini Cooper leaky thermostat housing and it comes up with quite a few posts.
I need to change the thermostat on ours anyway, but can't get to it due to a couple of stuck bolts. The Mrs will kill me if she has to drive to work in a car with a cold heater for much longer!
Hi folks, right after yet more money being thrown at this bloody car I am now still losing coolant. I had the bottle off along with the hose and no signs of leaking were present. I need to get this sorted in the next week as once I give it back to Emma she will not have a clue what to do with it and I won't be around to keep an eye on it.
So I have ordered new expansion tank hose which I will change in the next few days when it arrives, currently there are no clamps on the hose so I am going to put clamps on the new stuff. The bottle looks solid but I am going to run a skin around it with silicon I think to try and seal it.
Now where else are the issues? It is losing coolant quickly, the temp gauge never goes above half, I've no idea if the electric fan works or not. I've no idea if the thermostat is stuck or not. I also tried to unscrew the lid on the system ( the expansion tank leads to a nipple which is next to a screw off lid thing) but this cap will only loosen and not come off, is this an issue?? I am slowly running out of money and ideas with this car and I need to get it A1 before I give it Em or if anything happens I'll never forgive myself.
Oh and the garage humped me and I've got snow tires on left and summer on right! So kissing goodbye to another £400 so she is safe.
Note to self, never try and buy when not well and aiming to do something nice. It's a f
king waste of time! To think I sold my beautiful ZX-9R to part fund this. FFS
So I have ordered new expansion tank hose which I will change in the next few days when it arrives, currently there are no clamps on the hose so I am going to put clamps on the new stuff. The bottle looks solid but I am going to run a skin around it with silicon I think to try and seal it.
Now where else are the issues? It is losing coolant quickly, the temp gauge never goes above half, I've no idea if the electric fan works or not. I've no idea if the thermostat is stuck or not. I also tried to unscrew the lid on the system ( the expansion tank leads to a nipple which is next to a screw off lid thing) but this cap will only loosen and not come off, is this an issue?? I am slowly running out of money and ideas with this car and I need to get it A1 before I give it Em or if anything happens I'll never forgive myself.
Oh and the garage humped me and I've got snow tires on left and summer on right! So kissing goodbye to another £400 so she is safe.
Note to self, never try and buy when not well and aiming to do something nice. It's a f
king waste of time! To think I sold my beautiful ZX-9R to part fund this. FFS It is hard with water loss to work out were it is coming from with out time and some money. It is good the the temp is not getting high. The fan is probably ok so for now I would just forget that.
I would take the car for a run (Do not run AC if you have it as this will drip water when stopped), top the water up and leave it running on the drive. Do be very carful of the HOT water. Then see if there is any water on the ground or bubbles in the expation tank or the tank over flows. Do have a close look at the rad as the water can some time steem off befor you see the drip.
You could take it to a local garage how should be able to find what is going on but this dose mean more money. Also worth noting it took 5 top ups of the tank on my mini (run top up run top up etc) befor it stade level. But has been ok now for over 2 years.
Good luck.
I would take the car for a run (Do not run AC if you have it as this will drip water when stopped), top the water up and leave it running on the drive. Do be very carful of the HOT water. Then see if there is any water on the ground or bubbles in the expation tank or the tank over flows. Do have a close look at the rad as the water can some time steem off befor you see the drip.
You could take it to a local garage how should be able to find what is going on but this dose mean more money. Also worth noting it took 5 top ups of the tank on my mini (run top up run top up etc) befor it stade level. But has been ok now for over 2 years.
Good luck.
The coolant reservoir on our '55' Cooper kept running dry, although this seemed to be coupled with the fan frequently switching on and the water temperature rising, but there was never any sign of a leak. I heard that the thermostat housing can leak and cause similar symptoms and sure enough after replacing the thermostat housing we've had no more problems.
Ok, so today I've replaced the how and done a wee mod on the bottle. So whilst doing this I knot iced that there was a brown stain to the under bonnet covering above e expansion tank, there was also similar around the bottle itself and on the firewall behind it. So I am guessing that means it is over heating and boiling??? Is that correct? So, is that an issue with the thermostat or something else? I've found a new housing and thermostat that I think I will buy as a port of call, given I've already thrown my wallet away I may as well preempt a strike by the car as it obviously hates me.
So, idiot terms ease, remove the air box so I can access the housing, by. Looking, the are three screws, I gather I remove them, then what happens? Will Niagara flow over the drive or what, also when I fit the new housing and thermostat is it just a case of fill up the bottle and turn it on or do I have to bleed it and if I do how do I go about doing this? I am fine with a spanner etc, but need pointing out how to do this as I've not done this before.
Many thanks.
So, idiot terms ease, remove the air box so I can access the housing, by. Looking, the are three screws, I gather I remove them, then what happens? Will Niagara flow over the drive or what, also when I fit the new housing and thermostat is it just a case of fill up the bottle and turn it on or do I have to bleed it and if I do how do I go about doing this? I am fine with a spanner etc, but need pointing out how to do this as I've not done this before.
Many thanks.
My Haynes manual says...
Drain cooling system (maybe you can capture what you drain and re-use it?).
Remove battery and battery tray (I was wrong about the air filter/intake, that's for the Cooper S)
Disconnect hoses from housing.
Undo three screws.
Remove housing, thermostat, and sealing ring.
Refitting is the reverse.
Use a new sealing ring if the old one looks damaged.
Ensure that the thermostat has it's spring facing the cylinder head and the bleed valve is at the top.
Refill the cooling system.
Refilling is a little complicated and there's a bit too much for me to describe in detail but the general procedure is to open the two bleed screws, turn on ignition and set heater to max temp and low fan speed, fill the system and close the bleed screws when bubble-free liquid comes out, fill expansion tank, start engine, remove filler neck pressure cap (don't do this when the engine is warm),keep engine ticking over until level in filler neck stops dropping, turn off engine, top up water level in filler neck, turn off engine and let it cool completely, finally check coolant level in filler neck and expansion tank and replace the filler neck cap.
Note: on my car the coolant system didn't drain completely so it may be better to refill with pre-mixed water/anti-freeze.
Drain cooling system (maybe you can capture what you drain and re-use it?).
Remove battery and battery tray (I was wrong about the air filter/intake, that's for the Cooper S)
Disconnect hoses from housing.
Undo three screws.
Remove housing, thermostat, and sealing ring.
Refitting is the reverse.
Use a new sealing ring if the old one looks damaged.
Ensure that the thermostat has it's spring facing the cylinder head and the bleed valve is at the top.
Refill the cooling system.
Refilling is a little complicated and there's a bit too much for me to describe in detail but the general procedure is to open the two bleed screws, turn on ignition and set heater to max temp and low fan speed, fill the system and close the bleed screws when bubble-free liquid comes out, fill expansion tank, start engine, remove filler neck pressure cap (don't do this when the engine is warm),keep engine ticking over until level in filler neck stops dropping, turn off engine, top up water level in filler neck, turn off engine and let it cool completely, finally check coolant level in filler neck and expansion tank and replace the filler neck cap.
Note: on my car the coolant system didn't drain completely so it may be better to refill with pre-mixed water/anti-freeze.
Darkmatter, you sir are wonderful. I shall order the housing and see how I get on this week. Out of utter interest, once the thermostat and housing are replaced, that will be the bottle sorted, the hose sorted and the thermostat and housing replaced. If it continues to do this, what is my next port of call?
thank you again
thank you again
I'm pleased to be of help, though I'm not that much of an expert it just happens that a leaky thermostat housing is just about the only significant fault we've had with this car in 6 years.
It would probably be worth getting a garage to analyse the coolant to detect the presence of any combustion products which could indicate head gasket failure. Might be worth looking out for a Haynes manual too, eBay or Amazon should have them.
It would probably be worth getting a garage to analyse the coolant to detect the presence of any combustion products which could indicate head gasket failure. Might be worth looking out for a Haynes manual too, eBay or Amazon should have them.
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