Losing water on my t4 1.9 TDI

[higgy1971]

Hi everyone,

My t4 1.9 TDI 163,000 miles has started to lose water but can't see from any obvious place, If i top it up to max level it'll drain to when the light flashes after a few days or about 300 mile journey then stays at that level ??

cheers

Ian. :Blush:

[RickT]

Have a look at the back on the engine looking down to the gear box.

There is a hose seal which seems to be failing around the 120k mark..

Photo below..

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s13/RickT_album/29022008128.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s13/RickT_album/29022008134.jpg

Cheers

Rick

[stonedagain]

I would check the radiator. Being aluminium, road salt corrodes them from the outside, usually the bottom corners. Look for coolant staining, it's easier to see with the bumper removed. A small leak won't leave puddles cos the heat from the radiator dries it straight away. I had to replace the rad on both my passat (110k) & wife's vento (90k) for the very same reason!

[higgy1971]

Have a look at the back on the engine looking down to the gear box.

There is a hose seal which seems to be failing around the 120k mark..

Photo below..

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s13/RickT_album/29022008128.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s13/RickT_album/29022008134.jpg

Cheers

Rick

thanks for getting back to me, will have a look, much appreciated

higgy

[higgy1971]

I would check the radiator. Being aluminium, road salt corrodes them from the outside, usually the bottom corners. Look for coolant staining, it's easier to see with the bumper removed. A small leak won't leave puddles cos the heat from the radiator dries it straight away. I had to replace the rad on both my passat (110k) & wife's vento (90k) for the very same reason!


thamks for getting back to me, much appreciated, will have a look tomorrow,

higgy

[RickT]

thamks for getting back to me, much appreciated, will have a look tomorrow,

higgy


no worries... let me know how you get on..

Rick

[misbah1977]

Hey Guys any more news on this, my a3 is doing the same. Neighbour who has an A3 also, had the same problem on the same day, he called up VAG and they told him it was a coolant issue, since then he's been fine.

I have to fill up with water every few days, had a service in between but still it persists!!!!

any help or guidance will be much appreciated, already spent £1500 on the car and want to avoid spending much more.


thanks

[Jimbo_S3]

Had the same problem with my departed MkIV 2.0l golf. I would have to top the coolant up every day. The issue was the thermostat housing (right hand side of the block above transmission) which had cracked over time and was leaking coolant. I had this replaced and within two days, various hoses started rupturing and leaking. I replaced all the tired rotted hoses and all is good as new. As a tip, if you squeeze the main hose running from the block to the radiator a few times, if you have a leak which you can't see, you'll be able to hear it spitting and hissing through the break.

Good luck.

P.S, make sure the car has been standing for a few hours before you take any coolant hoses off. I didn't and scalded my fingers. Ouch!:aargh4:

[misbah1977]

Thanks Jimbo_S3 will take a look

[RickT]

Hey Guys any more news on this, my a3 is doing the same. Neighbour who has an A3 also, had the same problem on the same day, he called up VAG and they told him it was a coolant issue, since then he's been fine.

I have to fill up with water every few days, had a service in between but still it persists!!!!

any help or guidance will be much appreciated, already spent £1500 on the car and want to avoid spending much more.


thanks

Where abouts atre you based?

Cheers

Rick

[misbah1977]

i'm in east london, why?

i noticed some reisdue from a pipe lead off the expansion tank, pink, right on a join, could this be significant, tried looking for leaks but couldn't find anything, could be steam and its just evapourating.