Coolant on the windscreen
Coolant on the windscreen
Author
Discussion

djmac56

Original Poster:

207 posts

205 months

Monday 4th February 2013
quotequote all
Just popped out in the p&j and noticed a greasy mark on the windscreen. I rubbed it and it seemed like coolant. Is this common? Might the cold weather and no garage have caused a failure in a my cooling system? It's a low mileage 2007 plate v8 vantage by the way.

What should I do? Is this sort of thing covered by warranty?

Bincenzo

2,606 posts

208 months

Monday 4th February 2013
quotequote all
I'd be guessing but I'd suggest running the car for a while to see if you get any leaks. Put a load of cardboard underneath the car, that way you'll be able to see any fluid rather than it disappearing into your drive. If you've got a leak, I'd have thought it would manifest itself. If nothing obvious and once warm, i'd take it for a very short drive as often the airflow will move fluids about a bit, allowing you to see it.

Are you sure it's coolant? If its been outside and 'frozen', could it be washer fluid? if the pipes frozen but the pump still working, i guess it could rupture the pipe. Don't know if covered by warranty, but if its a component failure you would like to think so. I've certainly just had oil leaks fixed under warranty, so a coolant leak should be do-able!

Fingers crossed!

Ps, I'm not a mechanic, so there will be somebody along any minute with some sound advice!

Neil1300R

5,766 posts

207 months

Monday 4th February 2013
quotequote all
Would be surprised if its coolant on the windscreen. If you pop the bonnet open it will be obvious if its squirted far enough to get onto the windscreen. First check coolant levels, check windscreen washer level. Then check windscreen washer works (Woolie on here is the expert on how that functions whistle ). Also check hydaulics.

Lunablack

3,494 posts

191 months

Monday 4th February 2013
quotequote all
Neil1300R said:
Would be surprised if its coolant on the windscreen. If you pop the bonnet open it will be obvious if its squirted far enough to get onto the windscreen. First check coolant levels, check windscreen washer level. Then check windscreen washer works (Woolie on here is the expert on how that functions whistle ). Also check hydaulics.
What we need is a video.... On how to do these checks hehehehe

djmac56

Original Poster:

207 posts

205 months

Monday 4th February 2013
quotequote all
I shall check tomorrow in daylight. I thought it might be a leak in the heater matrix system causing coolant to escape through the heater vents ( perhaps because this happened on my previous car - a VW, not an Aston - and I'm worried the same is happening again. With any luck that can't happen with the Vantage system and it is something else. Will taste it and see if it is sweet or vinegary ( is vinegary a word?)

Thanks for the suggestions chaps.