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[Koomorph]

Hello gents

Well after months (probably over a year!) of trouble free motoring I received a paniced call from my poor mum today saying the miggy was on fire!! 

It actually wasn't on fire.... but after calming her down and racing over to her and dad's house and popping the hood it seems that they have lost all their coolant - the expansion bottle was bone dry, and I could see coolant still dripping along the bottom front of the engine.  With all the steam (and smoke?) my mum obviously thought the car was on fire!

So hoping you guys can help identify where the leak is coming from - I understand that the HBV is the prime suspect (02 reg, 85K miggy).

Firstly I need to refill their coolant - could someone advise the ratio (50/50?) and if this would be suitable option from Halfords - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_185166_langId_-1_categoryId_255224

Next, what would be the correct process for refilling the car with coolant? Do we just pour into the expansion bottle, and keep refiling until it no longer wants any more and then turn the car on? Let it warm up, keep topping up (and turn the heating on at some point..?)?

Finally, once refilled, how do I check where the leak is coming from (any obvious signs if it's the HBV)? Where else could I look that could indicate the HBV - or other possible leak?

All your help as always is super appreciated!  Hope everyone has had a great Christmas!

[Entwood]

IMHO until you find the leak fill with plain water . Once the leak is FIXED then add the antifreeze !

[Webby the Bear]

IMHO until you find the leak fill with plain water . Once the leak is FIXED then add the antifreeze !

I agree.

Fill up with water, play about with the heater settings and look at the back of the plenum in the drivers side area. If y'all have a leak from HBV at some point you'll see it pee out.

Presuming it's the HBV, replace that (guide on here).

Then fill up with 50/50 mix of antifreeze. Once filled up start engine, leave to idle a bit, then keep the revs about 2500 until all air is bled out. Top up.

Done

HTH

[Andy B]

.... and popping the hood it  ....

A convertible Omega 



or been watching too much shite form t'other side of the Atlantic? 

[Webby the Bear]

.... and popping the hood it  ....

A convertible Omega 



or been watching too much shite form t'other side of the Atlantic? 

 

Also something I forgot to mention.... when you're bleeding the air out after refilling it helps to massage radiator hoses to help expel the air

[Koomorph]

Hahaha! Yes, sorry, must be that! Haha!

Thanks all - good idea on the "water only" to first identify the leak. Will do that and check the HBV.

If I don't see it leaking from the HBV - anywhere else obvious I can check while I'm there?

Cheers again!

[ffcgary1]

If it is visible along the bottom front of the engine i would hazard a guess it is the water pump or one of the rad hoses that have split or the radiator has gone at the bottom. check with plain water first. if it is that big a leak then you will see it easy.
fill the expansion bottle to the max mark and start the engine and wait for the level to drop as the engine fills with water, then add untill it drops no further. only fill to the MAX MARK.
Did the engine overheat for long before the motor was swithched off.?

If the leak was at the back of the engine i would suspect HBV but at the front no.

[Koomorph]

Ok, so went back to try to identify the leak.....

Didn't even get a chance to start her up - as soon as I poured a litre of water into the expansion tank - I could hear it steadlily "dribbling" out. Couldn't see anything out the back - looked down the front of the engine below the crank pulley - and it seemed all to be coming from there (although the car is on a very minor forward facing slope). Within 4 or so mins, all the water had drained out again.

I couldn't see any leaks from the HBV - but I'm guessing that 1 lt of water hasn't even reached the HBV from when I first poured it into the expansion tank.... and not even turned the car on.

I took some video on my phone here and told them not to drive it!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttzczY_WGLo&feature=youtu.be

Any thoughts what this may be? Just not what they need at Christmas time! 

EDIT: To add to this -

My mum said it only started steaming/smelling as she drove into their road (short cul-de-sac) and she just parked up outside their house and switched it off. Hopefully no serious head damage has been done.

Water pump was changed with cambelt about 8K miles (and 2 year 11 months) ago - genuine VX parts

I checked dipstick while I was there - no mayo on it.

[Koomorph]

Edited - added to my post above.

[omega3000]

I was going to say water pump or seal but looks like from what you said its been changed recently  could be the seal though ..or a duff pump

[VXL V6]

I'd take the aux belt etc off and remove the cambelt cover, if your lucky it's the waterpump housing cracked or not tight against the block or something similar.

[andyc]

Sounds like the pump. If you drop the alternator belt off and then spin the pump by hand, see how it feels.

If it feels rough the take the timing belt cover off for a better look

Andy

[Andy B]

Water pump ...... you sure it was a GM part? 

[omega3000]

.... and popping the hood it  ....

A convertible Miggy  



or been watching too much shite form t'other side of the Atlantic? 

 

[Andy H]

If it isn't the pump then the thermostat/transfer tube or the plate on top of the oil cooler may have corroded through. Either way you will need to remove the inlet plenum to have a look.