This pesky fiesta coolin system!!!
Discussion
Here's another fun one.
I drive a Ford fiesta 1.4 zetec 2006. There was a big hoo-har over it over heating, i had a new thermostat, water pump and temp sender and all seemed fixed.
BUT. I'd noticed as was driving, the heating wouldnt work unless i was accelerating. As i pulled up on the drive, there was white smoke coming from the right hand of the bonnet, and i heard bubbling as i switched the engine off. The coolant had completely gone, but the car didnt over heat, although it smelt like it was burning. So i had it towed away, they said it was the thermostat housing leaking. So i had new housing and a new stat. Drove the car back, it was great. However this morning theres a small puddle under where the coolant tank is.
What is going on? I'm sure its not the gasket as the car hasnt over heated. My heater works properly now, just that pesky leak!
I drive a Ford fiesta 1.4 zetec 2006. There was a big hoo-har over it over heating, i had a new thermostat, water pump and temp sender and all seemed fixed.
BUT. I'd noticed as was driving, the heating wouldnt work unless i was accelerating. As i pulled up on the drive, there was white smoke coming from the right hand of the bonnet, and i heard bubbling as i switched the engine off. The coolant had completely gone, but the car didnt over heat, although it smelt like it was burning. So i had it towed away, they said it was the thermostat housing leaking. So i had new housing and a new stat. Drove the car back, it was great. However this morning theres a small puddle under where the coolant tank is.
What is going on? I'm sure its not the gasket as the car hasnt over heated. My heater works properly now, just that pesky leak!
_georginaamyc said:
Wow thanks for the help... ive tried 4 mechanics now
And none of them could test for leaks in the system ??WOW....that is truly incredible.
Has this mysterious leak happened only once ? or every time it's been to a mechanic ? Has someone overfilled the system ? Has it ever been tested for leaks ?
Soooooo after getting the fault checked.. AGAIN, they said theres nothing wrong. So i drove it, then a plume of smoke came from the bonnet. Turns out the idiots that had done the work this time didnt flush the system before filling it with coolant again and i had an air lock. Unbelievable.
_georginaamyc said:
Soooooo after getting the fault checked.. AGAIN, they said theres nothing wrong. So i drove it, then a plume of smoke came from the bonnet. Turns out the idiots that had done the work this time didnt flush the system before filling it with coolant again and i had an air lock. Unbelievable.
I can see no reason for it to need flushed based on what you've said.Air lock could be a symptom of further underlying problems, or just it wasnt filled correctly.
And given the problems you're describing, unless they were to take the car and drive it for lots of miles, days....they may not have experienced the problems you're seeing.
So it is all very believable even if there may be some misinformation and troubles caused by using multiple garages etc
stevieturbo said:
_georginaamyc said:
Soooooo after getting the fault checked.. AGAIN, they said theres nothing wrong. So i drove it, then a plume of smoke came from the bonnet. Turns out the idiots that had done the work this time didnt flush the system before filling it with coolant again and i had an air lock. Unbelievable.
I can see no reason for it to need flushed based on what you've said.Air lock could be a symptom of further underlying problems, or just it wasnt filled correctly.
And given the problems you're describing, unless they were to take the car and drive it for lots of miles, days....they may not have experienced the problems you're seeing.
So it is all very believable even if there may be some misinformation and troubles caused by using multiple garages etc
Gonna take it on the motorway later and see what happens with it!
E-bmw said:
Unfortunately, as you have found out, there are mechanics & mechanics, but you seem to have been to see a whole different race of beings altogether.
Right. Here we go again. The mechanic today told me it was an air lock. They flushed the system and filled with coolant. I drove it no problem. We took it out on a test drive tonight, got it hot and got it up to speed. It drove beautifully. We pulled up, left the car running, popped the bonnet and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank. The car didnt over heat, there was no smoke from the exhaust, just steam. It looked like it was leaking underneath again but it was dark so im not too sure. Does anyone have any idea at all??!?
_georginaamyc said:
Right. Here we go again. The mechanic today told me it was an air lock. They flushed the system and filled with coolant. I drove it no problem.
We took it out on a test drive tonight, got it hot and got it up to speed. It drove beautifully. We pulled up, left the car running, popped the bonnet and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank. The car didnt over heat, there was no smoke from the exhaust, just steam. It looked like it was leaking underneath again but it was dark so im not too sure. Does anyone have any idea at all??!?
When my head gasket went on my mk2 cavalier, there was no water in the oil, but there was steam from the exhaust. We took it out on a test drive tonight, got it hot and got it up to speed. It drove beautifully. We pulled up, left the car running, popped the bonnet and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank. The car didnt over heat, there was no smoke from the exhaust, just steam. It looked like it was leaking underneath again but it was dark so im not too sure. Does anyone have any idea at all??!?
Pit Pony said:
_georginaamyc said:
Right. Here we go again. The mechanic today told me it was an air lock. They flushed the system and filled with coolant. I drove it no problem.
We took it out on a test drive tonight, got it hot and got it up to speed. It drove beautifully. We pulled up, left the car running, popped the bonnet and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank. The car didnt over heat, there was no smoke from the exhaust, just steam. It looked like it was leaking underneath again but it was dark so im not too sure. Does anyone have any idea at all??!?
When my head gasket went on my mk2 cavalier, there was no water in the oil, but there was steam from the exhaust. We took it out on a test drive tonight, got it hot and got it up to speed. It drove beautifully. We pulled up, left the car running, popped the bonnet and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank. The car didnt over heat, there was no smoke from the exhaust, just steam. It looked like it was leaking underneath again but it was dark so im not too sure. Does anyone have any idea at all??!?
Other than that, the car is normal. It doesnt over heat, theres no smoke from the exhaust, theres no smoke froknthe engine. Its JUST the coolant tank
Seriously....try and find a mechanic with a brain cell or two. This should not be difficult to test or resolve.
As for overheating or not, OEM temperature gauges are not worth a f
k so dont be going by anything it tells you...unless it's bouncing off the red.
It could be anything from a major problem, to a broken water bottle or cap.
But really, it should be easy to test for most of those things for even a dumb mechanic.
As for overheating or not, OEM temperature gauges are not worth a f
k so dont be going by anything it tells you...unless it's bouncing off the red.It could be anything from a major problem, to a broken water bottle or cap.
But really, it should be easy to test for most of those things for even a dumb mechanic.
stevieturbo said:
Seriously....try and find a mechanic with a brain cell or two. This should not be difficult to test or resolve.
As for overheating or not, OEM temperature gauges are not worth a fk so dont be going by anything it tells you...unless it's bouncing off the red.
It could be anything from a major problem, to a broken water bottle or cap.
But really, it should be easy to test for most of those things for even a dumb mechanic.
The temp gauge is new and works well so i tend to trust it, but i understand with lack of coolant the temp wouldnt read is overheating anyway As for overheating or not, OEM temperature gauges are not worth a f
k so dont be going by anything it tells you...unless it's bouncing off the red.It could be anything from a major problem, to a broken water bottle or cap.
But really, it should be easy to test for most of those things for even a dumb mechanic.
Id of thouht a mechanic could find a leak, or find a blockage. Its been towed to my local mechanic who i havent been to since the last overheating problem, so i'm hoping he can help, he's normaly pretty good. I'm just hoping and praying its not the dreaded head gasket, it would cost more than my car is worth to have that fixed!!
_georginaamyc said:
"..... and there was a lot of steam coming from the coolant tank".
Reminds me of an issue that plagued Porsche 996 Carreras, years ago. The plastic coolant tank design was flawed and one of the seams would eventually crack. When the engine was cold, the cracked seam kept water in perfectly, but as soon as the coolant system pressurised, the pressure would force the seam apart, depositing water on the left hand exhaust manifold and producing spectacular clouds of steam to thoroughly embarrass owners. It took Porsche 4 redesigns before they had a tank that didn't split!Maybe this is exactly what's happening here?
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