Ongoing coolant loss

[ChrisJG]

The story so far.....I had a major coolant leak some months ago which I thought had been solved by replacing the water pump. However, after this was done, there were a couple of occasions when I noticed some coolant spray on the drivers side service panel and windscreen after driving. About a month ago, the car was serviced by Steve Williams in Maidenhead and the coolant system was also pressure tested. No problems were found and so, I had hoped all would be well. Unfortunately, I noticed the same spray this morning having driven from Datchet to Henley and, sure enough, the coolant level had once again dropped below minimum.

Does this sound like a new radiator is required? Could it be something as simple as a jubilee clip needing a tighten? I think I need to take it back to the garage but, don't really fancy shelling out for another pressure test if the problem is unlikely to be identified.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ptp170]

This one turned out to be a loose jubilee clip...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=460308 

If your going to get it pressure tested then it's advisable to get it toasty roasty hot. Don't just let it get up to temperature get it past 100C so the fan kicks in...this is when the cooling system will be at it's most pressurised and any leaks may start to show up. My elise was fine when it was tested at the garage but they only warmed it up until the termostat was kicking in....it was only the next day in stationary traffic did i discover that all was not well :-S

Incidently, mine turned out to be the jubilee clip too. I replaced my clips with heavy duty versions and then threadlocked them in place

Chris

[Mrs Trackside]

I've had the same problems as you since we had the heater matrix changed about three months ago.

Under pressure testing (my car never goes over 80deg C since the HM was changed), it turned out I have a leak in my radiator