Leaking

[mike9009]

Hi

I have a 1.6 1991 Eunos.

Not really read or heard about many problems with radiators, but I seem to have a leak - at the moment not sure where it is coming from.

Is it likely to be the radiator or hoses or cracked header tank? What have other people experienced?

If it is the radiator is it an easy DIY change?

Many thanks

Mike

[inman999]

Get your head under the bonnet, shouldn't be too hard to pin down where the leak is coming from.

The rads not a hard job to do.

Mine was leaking from the small hose connected to the thermostat housing. It had corroded and was seeping at the union, might be worth checking.

[snotrag]

Radiators are dead easy to change it just slots right in.

Water leaks can be a nightmare to trace though - I thought it could have been all sorts until i narrowed it down to the waterpump. Has it ever been changed?

[bluetone]

Suggest you inspect with the engine running and a friend giving it a few revs to put some pressure into the system - the leak may not show itself at idle.

[maser_spyder]

bluetone said:

Suggest you inspect with the engine running and a friend giving it a few revs to put some pressure into the system - the leak may not show itself at idle.

Yup, do this. It'll only show itself under pressure unless it's really, really bad.

Possible water pump, they don't last forever on any car. If it is, make sure you do the cam belt at the same time, it's all got to come off anyway. Relatively cheap job, but laborious if you haven't done one before.

Or, dare I say it, Radweld?

[bluetone]

Check the No.1 heater hose - it exits the top of the block on the LH side and goes into the firewall. This has a habit of letting-go if the Camshaft Angle Sensor (CAS) O'ring has perished (this sits just above heater hose No.1 and if it leaks oil past the O'ring, it drips onto No.1, perishes it and can lead to a failure). Usually they go in pretty spectacular style though, billowing steam under bonnet etc...so mebs not what you have, given your description..

[Munter]

Don't forget to check the rad cap I know people have had to change those to fix various problems.

[j44esd]

bluetone said:

Check the No.1 heater hose - it exits the top of the block on the LH side and goes into the firewall. This has a habit of letting-go if the Camshaft Angle Sensor (CAS) O'ring has perished (this sits just above heater hose No.1 and if it leaks oil past the O'ring, it drips onto No.1, perishes it and can lead to a failure). Usually they go in pretty spectacular style though, billowing steam under bonnet etc...so mebs not what you have, given your description..

This...

[j44esd]

Munter said:

Don't forget to check the rad cap I know people have had to change those to fix various problems.

Or this...

Hope that helps!

Edited by j44esd on Friday 2nd April 23:45

[mike9009]

Thanks for all the replies - gives me somethings to look at when I get back home after a weekend away with my trustwiorthy (touches wood) Alfa 156! ha ha...

When the car is stationary on flat ground, the water was dripping from a small tray towards the front of the engine - right in the middle.

Will update when I have had a look and hopefully solved the issue....


Mike

[bluetone]

Likely near the pump then

[snotrag]

Sounds like waterpump to me, or could be from the thermostat area.

Look from underneath and see if its running down the front of the block, right behind the main pulley.

Thats right below where the waterpump is.

[mike9009]

Looks like the water pump has/ is failing. The only odd thing is that it doesnt seem to leak whilst the engine is running. Only after about half an hour can you see the drips. (although this might just be the time to accumulate and then drain through to the floor??)

I think that if it is the water pump I will leave it to someone more knowledgable to change and get all the belts done at the same time. Anyone know a rough cost for this (just as a guide) so I know I am not being ripped off!!)

Thanks

Mike

[Munter]

I forget now but it wasn't big money.

If your not sure about your local garage doing it for some reason there's autolink in Winchester or www.furzemotors.co.uk in Southampton as specialists.

[bluetone]

mike9009 said:

The only odd thing is that it doesnt seem to leak whilst the engine is running. Only after about half an hour can you see the drips.

Assuming it's a failing gasket, the heat from the engine could be expanding the metal parts sufficiently to form a seal, only for them them to cool down/contract and leak after shutdown?

A fairly common fault and one that is DIY-able so hopefully will not be a lot of money to fix. Good luck

[mike9009]

Just thought I would update this thread.

Eventually the car wouldn't go much further than about a mile without overheating - and so this limited me taking the car to an mx5 specialist. Eventually took to a local garage who replaced all the belts and the water pump for £385. (Not sure whether this is reasonable or not?)

Anyway this seems to have solved the problem....


Mike