smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) I recently bought a Mk 4 Golf TDi. I had my clutch replaced Monday last week. Yesterday I started getting a "STOP.. Check Coolant" warning. I went to the dealership and got the correct coolant G12++ which was £8-odd for 1.5L. I topped it up and diluted to the correct amount. This morning I'm getting the same warning and the coolant is back down to the min level. I can see a bit of fluid around the window washer bottle and I think one of the pipes looks like it has tape around it possibly to patch it up. My usual mechanic slipped a disc last week and will be out of action for some time and I don't know where to turn Edited January 16, 2010 by smiiithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chandelierman Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I had the same problem on a different car which turned out to be a very small split in the header tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 replace the pipe is my advice - simple enough job Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 not to worry, replace the hose, not too difficult. got a halfords or wilco nearby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 If its dropping that much coolant its a pretty serious leak. My clio was dropping a very small amount of coolant, it might go from max to min over 2 or 3 weeks. I put half a bottle of rad weld through it and its not dropped a bit since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Its going from full to empty in a day Got a Halfrauds and a VW dealership near me. Scared to drive the car at the moment as I don't want to cease the engine on a car I've had for a few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cometa24/7 Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 as lez said change the pipe first thing,then if that dosen't do it, change the edder tank. thease will be quite cheep to replace,and if replacing thease parts dosen't do it, you could be looking at a possible problem with the warter pump,not so cheep. Good luck anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Sounds like a plan. Apparently a new tank is about £12 but not sure about the pipe. I've already got the pump and timing belt kit ready in the house but not due for another 20K or so but if it needs doing it's not a major drama. Was just hoping my mechanic would be back on his feet for me to get some cheap labour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I think I will replace the tank and pipe that I suspect is causing the problem. If a bottle of coolant is nearly £9 and a header tank is £12 theres no point in fannying on fault finding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I had a saab that used to leak coolant, rad pipes used to split regularly, turned out that over the years some bright spark kept filling the rad with tap water and it corroded the alloy head! had water leaking from the jacket directly into 2 of the cylinders, thus creating enough pressure from the compression of the cylinders into the coolant system and bursting the hoses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I can see a bit of fluid around the window washer bottle and I think one of the pipes looks like it has tape around it possibly to patch it up. What has fluid loss from the windscreen washer bottle got to do with a possible engine coolant leak? If there are no obvious leaks and you really need to be under the car to check properly,the coolant may be going into the cylinder(s) and therefore point to possible head gasket problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I've been back out and had another look and it's hard to say exactly where it's loosing coolant. The pipe I was looking at seems to be steering related. Hard to find a leak in wet conditions like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 The fluid loss isn't from the windscreen washer bottle, the bottles are side by side and there is fluid in the engine bay around the washer bottle, which is where I imagine it would run if there was a leak in the engine coolant tank. What has fluid loss from the windscreen washer bottle got to do with a possible engine coolant leak? If there are no obvious leaks and you really need to be under the car to check properly,the coolant may be going into the cylinder(s) and therefore point to possible head gasket problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Its going from full to empty in a day that amount has got to be visible. top it up run it till it gets to temp, then get your head under the bonnet and have a look and pull on the proper pipes. also check the core plugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) It's £21 to temporarily insure my Clio for another week. I'm taking it back to the garage who replaced the clutch to check it out and do what needs doing. Does anybody know if the coolant header tank and pipes would have been disconnected/taken out while it was having the clutch replaced? Edited January 16, 2010 by smiiithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogey Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 if you have not had the correct amount of antifreeze in you may as markbivvy suggests have popped out a core plug.They are cheap enough to buy but can be a ****** to fit.Had it happen to me once many years ago so always check my anti freeze carefully.Hope you get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benbaikal Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 have you checked with your mechanic who replaced the clutch as he may have disturbed some hoses whilst changing the clutch or may have only partly tightened a hose clip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Thats what I'm thinking but he's not the guy I normally use since my usual mechanic can hardly walk never mind replace a clutch. Somebody else covered for him so I wont be able to speak to him until the garage opens on Monday morning when I'll be taking the car down anyway. Hopefully it is something simple and wont cost too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 You said you've only had the car a few weeks . Did you buy privately or from a dealer ? If it's the latter top the coolent up drive it streight to the dealer , chuck the keys athim and demand your money back . You have already put a clutch in it , now the coolant level is playing up . Sounds to me like your very unlucky . all the best yis yp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyblanco Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Water pumps are common failures as are thermostat housings, there should be some very clear signs if you are loosing a litre of coolant so you need to get it on a ramp quickly. If it was bought from a dealer then take it back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 It was bought privately but it's going on the ramp at the garage tomorrow. I think the problem with loosing coolant has been caused when replacing the clutch because they must have disconnected some of the pipes to get the gearbox out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 Could be a simple leak..... Maybe the heater matrix has failed?, do any of the carpets appear to be wet? Or the Head gasket is shot.... You need to do a pressure test of the system to be sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 No I can't see any wet patches anywhere. I drove it home from work last night and the temp guage climbed to 90 and stopped there until I got home as it normally would. Hope it's not the head gasket, I'm thinking it's probably a clip that hasn't been tightened properly as it has only started since the clutch was done Should know for use tomorrow when it gets checked out Could be a simple leak..... Maybe the heater matrix has failed?, do any of the carpets appear to be wet? Or the Head gasket is shot.... You need to do a pressure test of the system to be sure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted January 17, 2010 Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 What does the exhaust look like, when it's warm ? I wouldn't be driving it, without a block or compression test... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiiithy Posted January 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2010 It's being recovered to the garage tomorrow morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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