Loosing water from the Rad

Maz · 23-02-2008,01:29 AM

On average I need to top up the water on my VW Passat 19tdi once a week.

I know it is low because the heater starts throwing out cold air when the temp dial is bang on the centre

Today I got home and left the engine running with the fan on full blowing cold.

Opened the rad and it was near empty got the hose pipe out and gently filled it up.

Put the cap back on, left the car running while i wrapped the hose pipe up.
Checked the heater and it was still cold.

checked for any leaks and found nothing, got called into the house for a few minutes but when I came back out, it was like there were 2 taps either side of the plate number which had been left on

I turned the engine off and tried to see where it was coming from. No luck, what could it be.

I love the car but each time something goes wrong it seems to cost over £200!! Please tell me this will be an easy fix

**chris_caudy** · 23-02-2008,10:56 PM

Recently had a similar problem, unfortunately it was the radiator itself having corroded through where the horizontal feeds enter the vertical part of the radiator. A new radiator was my solution, expensive but now fixed.
regards
Chris C

Maz · 23-02-2008,10:59 PM

man that is NOT what I wanted to hear /read

Gonna take it to the garage Monday see what he says

**Crasher** · 23-02-2008,11:00 PM

This is a common 3B problem. In fact all modern VAG cars suffer from rad corner leakage, especially the current Octavia 2 and the Golf 4.

**caiminbrowne** · 24-02-2008,05:55 PM

Has the very same problem. Had the very same problem. Only answer is replace the radiator. You will probably get a splurus part for quarter the price which is just as good

**Inspector Beetle** · 24-02-2008,06:19 PM

Depends how much you are losing.. Try a BARS Leak about £3.50.from Halfords, I used one in my Passat 2 yrs ago and I have forgotten all about the leak. They are used in commercial vehicles and once in they last forever. Worth a try before puting a Rad in!!

Maz · 24-02-2008,09:50 PM

Sounds good, I will be the first one in tomorrow :-)

**KeithS** · 24-02-2008,09:59 PM

Get a radiator from GSF - costs about £70. Then find someone local to fit it if you don't want to do it yourself. A friend who is a Volvo mechanic did mine for £50. Far better than paying the VW dealer £362 to do the same job...

Maz · 25-02-2008,07:26 PM

Originally Posted by KeithS

Get a radiator from GSF - costs about £70. Then find someone local to fit it if you don't want to do it yourself. A friend who is a Volvo mechanic did mine for £50. Far better than paying the VW dealer £362 to do the same job...

That don't sound so bad.

Just to update it has gone from bad to worse, today I was getting water spraying out of the vents, the floor well has puddles on both sides, the stream was so thick I couldn't see anything inside the car.

pulled into a petrol station to put more water in and it took ages looked below the water container and it was pouring out as fast as i filled it.

Went into the station and bought some rad sealant thing for £4 poured it in and managed to get 40 miles out of it otherwise it was a tow truck back home!

All this wouldn't have been so frustrating on my own but i had my wife and kid with me.

My misses says that BMW's are unreliable as the last few i have had were going wrong but this Passat has had a few problems so it must be my luck

So far the driver side spring snapped some control valve melted away so there was oil all over the engine, air bag light came on cos some sensor behind the steering wheels was faulty and the CV boot or joint is on its way out!

I plan to keep this car so hopefully this will be the last expense