Low coolant warning

[dsmith1990]

04 VXR, low coolant warning came on as I popped to the supermarket, but not on the way home. Level is a bit below normal. Will top up tomorrow or sat - is this common?

I know there is a rad cap issue but is that later model cars?

[ARAF]

All cars can suffer from rad cap failure.

Does yours have a cap on the radiator, as well as the expansion tank?

[FizzysCar]

If it's an 04 and stock there is no rad cap on the radiator, just the one on the res/overflow bottle.

Mine started loosing coolant and turned out to be seeping out the bottom of the rad on one side where the plastic end cap meets. It was either a small hole in the rad or the plastic end tank was coming away (or cracked?) - apparently a common issue on the stock radiators.

Turned the ignition on one morning and straight away it said "low coolant" and there was nothing in the reservoir at all. Luckily it had done this while standing and not while I was driving.

Replaced it with an alloy rad just to make sure.

[dsmith1990]

Any chance it looked like this? Went down to Epsom this morning and picked up some coolant - left it a couple of hours and found this.




Seems to be residue on the right side of the rad

[FizzysCar]

It does look similar to what happened to mine. You can get a better look at it from underneath but have to take off a plastic undertray if I recall correctly. If it's leaking from the side tanks it should be pretty obvious.

Your coolant level doesn't look to have dropped in the bottle much though from what I can tell in the pick - unless you topped it up again?

[VinceM]

Same as what happened to mine too. Started off with a puddle that sort of size but got worse quite quickly. I figure it's taken nearly 10 years to reach that state so didn't source an upgrade so to speak. Keep the system topped up and use a bit of antifreeze to do this if you're not planning to remedy soon as neat water will not provide adequate protection if you do just top up with water each time.

[dsmith1990]

Thanks guys! Fizzyscar - it had dropped about an inch so this is after I've topped it up. I managed to get a look underneath and saw pink fluid dripping off the area under the rad and all over a plastic hose protecting wiring.

VinceM - I have the same thought as you. Car is 10 years old and the rad has lasted this long so I'm happy with a like for like replacement. Got a bottle of ready made stuff in the boot ☺