coolant light on UPDATE

[rd070707]

Right guys need a bit of advice, got my cambelt changed today, all seemed well got the car home parked up for a while and when I started her again the coolant light was on. When I drove up the road it cleared, then back on, off etc etc.

I've checked and the coolant is still at the max level. Has the mechanic maybe knocked a sensor?

ideas?

[Kezzieboy]

It'll be the level sender on the header tank, brown plug IIRC, make sure its plugged in properly, if still no joy get a replacement of a scrapper.

[Piggy]

or a poor earth, thats what is was for me

[C2K]

Have you interpreted the level correctly in the tank? The L shaped level reader can confuse people. You shouldn't be able to see it as such.

[rd070707]

Well drove it this morning, light was on constant except for when you went round some corners etc so it is something to do with the actual level I think. Landed it round with the mechanic who wasn't there but when the engine was running it looked a bit low in the header tank so the other mechanic chucked some more water in to top it up.

The light is off now but I won't be getting to drive it much as I am away a few days to see what happens.

[Toms306]

The light was on and you didn't think to top it up?

Assuming the water pump was done with the cambelt you will have lost some coolant during that.

As for the level, I just fill it up and let any excess blow out the breather by the rad cap....

[C2K]

My sentiments tom, but he said he checked it. I would think he just misinterpreted the level indicator.

[Piggy]

or perhaps it dropped after driving it...sounds like mechanic checked it without running it up to temp

[rd070707]

Yes tom the light was on and I checked it, first time I checked it it seemed fine but yes it was below the level indicator.

Waterpump was changed and new coolant put In. I'm just guessing maybe it wasn't bled right?

[Piggy]

sounds like it.

are the heaters working ok?

[Toms306]

Yes tom the light was on and I checked it, first time I checked it it seemed fine but yes it was below the level indicator.

Waterpump was changed and new coolant put In. I'm just guessing maybe it wasn't bled right?

I didn't say check I said top up.... The moonstone had a leaky rad so I just kept chucking water in when the light came on, didn't bother with the level indicator on the tank lol. Excess blows out anyway.

And yeah it sounds as though it wasn't bled properly as you say.

[rd070707]

I will check the heaters. Will just land it back with him and get him to bleed it. if that fails it must be the sensor

[rd070707]

Okay guys just to update this problem, I've drove the car over a long journey now, got up to temp fine, sat at 79 as normal, all fine. Until I realised that it was throwing coolant out the header tank. So I've took the cap off and realised the rubber seal is just kinda sitting there. Now I can't remember where its meant to be, is it on the cap or is it meant to be on the header tank?

[Toms306]

The seal should be on the cap

[rd070707]

Cheers tom, how does it fit on?

[Toms306]

Err, no idea, never seen one come off lol.

It may have been glued on at the factory, but that's only a guess.

[Jimbo]

Probably best just to get another cap tbh. Then bleed the system shud be ok

[rd070707]

Cheers mate, I will get the mechanic to bleed it as I don't trust myself with that kind of thing lol

[Toms306]

Its really not hard to bleed. Infact, park uphill so the header tank is higher than the heater matrix hoses and it'll basically bleed itself!

[rd070707]

So guys looks like I need a new cap, the mechanic made sure it was bled right but the seal is off the cap and all swolen.

Anybody have a cap for sale?

[Toms306]

I have a cap for sale.

[rd070707]

Pm me a price tom as long as its in good nick

[rd070707]

Right just to update this as its even more odd now...so I got the cap off tom and replaced it and got the mechanic to top up the coolant, light goes off and I drive it for a week all is well. Temp is normal, heaters work everything. But when I started to take it on a few longer drives, it started blowing coolant out the header again. at first I thought oh its just because he overcooked it and it will settle at a level. But when I took the cap off this morning to investigate, it has blown the seal on this cap too! and it seemed in perfect condition a week ago...

really baffled now but obviously still of the opinion that it is the mechanics problem as he seems to have created it

[bigtone0777]

If you run it with the cap off does it blow bubbles and with it running with the cap on are the water hoses really tight to squeeze?

[rd070707]

No mate, but I will have to check the pressure in the top pipe after a run to be sure. But none of these symptoms before the cambelt change

[Face.]

2 ltr coke bottle with the bottom cut off can be used to make a header tank.
Hope this is of some use to you.

[Poodle]

Sounds like theres a blockage or air pocket somewhere, have you tried rebleeding the system properly?

[rd070707]

How many bleed points are there? maybe he just isn't doing it right?

actually a quick how to would be handy as I don't have a clue tbh.

Would trapped air not have caused it to overheat though?

[Ruan]

The rubber seal literally slips on the cap around the centre, there are some bits of plastic it clips to... Its pretty obvious where it sits.

If its spewing water however and overheating, it does sound like possible head gasket failure...

There are three bleed points, one on top of the radiator, one on the top of the Thermostat housing and one on the heater matrix hoses.

[rd070707]

Dude, there is no overheating. And I know where the seal goes its just shot and swollen inside the past week, same thing happened to the other one