Leaky water pipes 03 Vogue

[Kylie]

Hi at least once per month the low water coolant light comes on and I top it up. Since its been checked that no coolant is being lost into the engine its become apparent by some mechanics these cars do infact have a problem for the hoses to leak as they expand and shrink causing weepage. Bugger!

Is there any particular hose thats worse than others? Certainly want to change them out for better hoses/clamps if this is the case.

Cheers all

[Liszt]

Sure it's not a leaky radiator?

[GKP]

Radiator, expansion tank, water pump and rad cap are all suspects before the connections on the pipes.

[Kylie]

GKP said:

Radiator, expansion tank, water pump and rad cap are all suspects before the connections on the pipes.

Thanks looks like ill have to get under there after its been running on a dry road and check these areas

[ruaricoles]

95% chance it's the rad.... Have a good close look at the end tanks about 5 tubes down from the top. You can see the front through the grille (just about), and the rear if you just pop off the little plastic clips at the top of the viscous fan cowl (then the cowl can be moved back).

If it is the rad, then when changing it cut some castellations out of the top of the condenser fan cowl (the electric fan on the front), also cut away the thin plastic strip across the top of the rad frame. As they are, these both restrict airflow to the 5th tube (compared with the ones either side) and cause stress cracking. Later cars have a sort of castellated fan cowl design.

Hope that helps!

Ruari

[Kylie]

Cheers, all helps