Low Coolant + Warning Lights

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

Hello,

 

I am after any advice as to what people think could be the problem with my car.

I have only have this car about a week, so I do not know if any of these issues are old or new.

It is a Hreg 1.9 gti

The car drove back fine (120miles ish) from where I got it, all the guages seamed to work (the oil temp took ages to move and never did much)

Then once I was home the next day I was just checking over it and noticed that the coolant level was low (almost empty) in the expansion tank.

 

I have the black expansion tank and can not see any marks on it as to where low and full are, do you know?

 

I topped this up and within a day it was gone again, so I re-filled it again and ran the car while looking all around the engine and under for any leaks.

I could not find any leaks and the water has stayed in the tank, so was it just very low from the day I fetched it?

Now I my last journey in it the coolant warning light came on the dash, only very dim and would slowly get brighter but would go off all of a sudden and then start coming on again from dim.

Then my oil pressure guage stated to drop, but still had pressure just not what it normally had.

 

My first idea was the head gasket, but my oil on the dip stick seams clean, I dropped a small amounnt from the sump and this too seams ok. there is a small amount of mayo looking stuff inside the filler neck, but I belive this can happen on a healthy car due to condensation.

 

Any advice on what to try to do fix this would be great.

Thank you

sorry about the long post I just wanted to try and give the whole story.

 

Thanks again

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

In no order:

 

Mayo in filler necks is quite normal, especially in cold and damp weather.

 

If the coolant level drops again, then the water has to be going somewhere. Next time you top it up, try and park the car in a level garage over some clean, dry cardboard and then check the next day if anything has leaked. This will help you trace it too.

 

Do you get any steam either out of the exhaust or out of the expansion tank with the cap off when the engine's running?

 

I understand half way is about correct on the black tank, but you should have an owner's guide or Haynes manual to check anyway.

 

205 coolant level sensors are notoriously bad; however if you are continually losing coolant then perhaps we shouldn't blame it just yet, as perhaps it's doing it's job.

 

How does the car perform?

 

So for now I'd concentrate on checking, topping up and monitoring your coolant, as I'm sure you know it shouldn't lose any. If it does, then you do have a problem, which is either a leak or a HG problem.

 

BTW a leak could be something like a tiny split or ill fitting hose clamp, that only sprays out a fine mist when the engine's hot; so leaks don't always show up when sat still. Is there any spray or droplets on the underside of the bonnet after a drive?

[welshpug 1,666]

I would start with a new expansion tank cap, they are cheap enough form the dealers, the spring often ages and doesn't hold the system under pressure, as the coolant expands it leaks out under the cap and down the overflow.

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

 

I have had the car sitting over a bed of sawdust to see if any leak could be identified, and up till now there has been no marks.

 

Just when out and the oil level and coolant level are still in the same place as yesterday, all its done is sit there I have not been out since.

When I start it I get some exhaust smoke, but nothing more than I would expect, once it has been running I do get some steam from the expansion tank. Is this just the fact it is warm and the air is cold outside?

 

I have looked in my hanyes manual about how full is full for the expansion tank and it only shows the older round shape tank.

Will the light on then dash come on if it is too full?

 

As far as how it performs, I think it runs and goes fine, this is my first 205 gti but it seams to pull and run with the power I expected, but I do not have any other 205 experiance to compare it with.

 

I can not see any marks on the bonnet where it looks like a leak has been.

 

I am unsure what route to take, do you think it would be worth me taking it to a garage to have the sniff test on the coolant to see if its the head gasket?

 

Thank you

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

I have a pug dealer just down the road I will go and order a new cap.

I am just lost by the coolant loss, but no mayo in the oil and tank.

As there was no evidence of a leak my first thought was the head gasket, but now I am unsure.

 

Thank you

[welshpug 1,666]

the streaming expansion tank suggests a leak there to me, most likely the cap

 

sniff test might be an idea if you have a local friendly garage, make sure the exhaust isn't leaking though as that could give a false reading by filling the engine bay in exhaust gases.

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

I have just ordered a new cap, should be with me about the middle of the week.

 

The steam from the expansion tank was with the lid off and the engine running, as this is what Drsarty asked, sorry if I did not make that clear.

 

Thanks

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

Just went to start it and I noticed another warning light.

This was only on when I had the key in the pre ignition point and goes when its started.

From what I have read I belive it the engine management light.

 

What lights should be on at this point?

 

Thank you

[DrSarty 90 1 Cars]

I would suggest one thing at a time Benny. In simple terms, no warning lights while running equals good (except handbrake of course), so take them all being out when it's running as a good thing.

 

I often forget about suggesting the exp tk cap, but I would just test yours for now by running the engine up to temp still over the sawdust and see what if anything leaks out. If it does come down the overflow then Welshpug's suggestion is perhaps bang on.

 

I would unplug the coolant level warning plug for now, as it's only an aid (or hinderance). We should establish the basics first of whether it is losing coolant or not and how?

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

I'd remove and clean up the level sensor, if you've got the black header tank, just twist it and it comes out the bottom, clean all the limescale and crap off it and put it back.

[benny205mi16 19 1 Cars]

Thank you to eveyone for your help so far.

 

I have ran the engine up and could not see any vissible leak, I will check again ones its cooled down.

 

j-turnell, do you know where the fill marks are on the black header tank, I can not see any or find it in the haynes manual.