Technical Coolant leak 595

[Vafung19802]

Hi all noticing a smell of evaporated water /coolant coming in to the cabin
Upon inspection I’ve noticed my water level is on minimum ,
I’ve topped this up every day and took a closer look in the engine bay and left car running but no leaking water from underneath the car .

However I’ve noticed dried coolant splatters all on the fan and upper engine parts so seems the leak is coming top end of the engine ?

Any thoughts guys

Thank you

 

[bugsymike]

Hi all noticing a smell of evaporated water /coolant coming in to the cabin
Upon inspection I’ve noticed my water level is on minimum ,
I’ve topped this up every day and took a closer look in the engine bay and left car running but no leaking water from underneath the car .

However I’ve noticed dried coolant splatters all on the fan and upper engine parts so seems the leak is coming top end of the engine ?

Any thoughts guys

Thank you

Can be a waterpump, radiator or many other things, often if waterpump if you look at the underside of the bonnet you may see a stain line in the direction the "fan" belt drives and often it will leak when engine running but less so if engine off.
When engine warmed up and cooling system under pressure usually it will become apparent where it is leaking, if still not sure and being very careful of moving parts, sometimes holding a piece of A4 paper around the area can show a leak "splatter"and you can see where it is coming from.

 

[Vafung19802]

Can be a waterpump, radiator or many other things, often if waterpump if you look at the underside of the bonnet you may see a stain line in the direction the "fan" belt drives and often it will leak when engine running but less so if engine off.
When engine warmed up and cooling system under pressure usually it will become apparent where it is leaking, if still not sure and being very careful of moving parts, sometimes holding a piece of A4 paper around the area can show a leak "splatter"and you can see where it is coming from.

Hi there
Thank you for your reply
I did take a look around the engine bay took of the engine tray etc
The only trace of leaking I found was on the radiator itself but facing the engine side so as you look in the engine bay bottom left corners have signs of coolant residue .
I’ve also squeezed a few radiator pipes and noticed that I could here a open wishing noise like air is ecaping from the underneath

Could it be possible the radiator has perished ? The car has covered 98k miles

The water pump is connected on to the cam and crank belt ? I’ve not noticed any spillage from there and the belt is dry …

Seems like the problems are always coming down on this little abarth

Not sure if I can do a pressure test on the coolant etc or may have to book in to a mechanic ?

Thanks For the info bugsymike

 

[bugsymike]

Hi there
Thank you for your reply
I did take a look around the engine bay took of the engine tray etc
The only trace of leaking I found was on the radiator itself but facing the engine side so as you look in the engine bay bottom left corners have signs of coolant residue .
I’ve also squeezed a few radiator pipes and noticed that I could here a open wishing noise like air is ecaping from the underneath

Could it be possible the radiator has perished ? The car has covered 98k miles

The water pump is connected on to the cam and crank belt ? I’ve not noticed any spillage from there and the belt is dry …

Seems like the problems are always coming down on this little abarth

Not sure if I can do a pressure test on the coolant etc or may have to book in to a mechanic ?

Thanks For the info bugsymike

Modern radiators are not over engineered and are made of aluminium with a plastic tank either end crimped on against a rubber gasket, so when they start to fail nothing can be done for them.
In the old days I have soldered brass radiators where outlet pipes or the neck has cracked etc. and professional repairers could re core them using the old header tanks at a reasonable cost. Having said that if you shop around rads are not too expensive in plastic and aluminium.
On a 2010 Doblo Maxi Van I have I had to replace the rad due to a similar leak you describe at 104K miles approx. Always make sure when changed that the correct antifreeze is used as it is also a corrosion inhibitor for the aluminium components not just of the radiator but the rest of the engine.
With engine fully warmed up after a good run you can often see signs of a leak as coolant under full pressure then, if you don't have access to a correct pressure tester.
Note it should only be used to a max. of a couple of ponds pressure more than the radiator cap specifies to prevent other damage. Most are around 1 Bar which = 14.7 Lbs"pounds", your handbook may say. Your local garage can confirm and fit radiator if you do not have the equipment to do this.

 

[Vafung19802]

Modern radiators are not over engineered and are made of aluminium with a plastic tank either end crimped on against a rubber gasket, so when they start to fail nothing can be done for them.
In the old days I have soldered brass radiators where outlet pipes or the neck has cracked etc. and professional repairers could re core them using the old header tanks at a reasonable cost. Having said that if you shop around rads are not too expensive in plastic and aluminium.
On a 2010 Doblo Maxi Van I have I had to replace the rad due to a similar leak you describe at 104K miles approx. Always make sure when changed that the correct antifreeze is used as it is also a corrosion inhibitor for the aluminium components not just of the radiator but the rest of the engine.
With engine fully warmed up after a good run you can often see signs of a leak as coolant under full pressure then, if you don't have access to a correct pressure tester.
Note it should only be used to a max. of a couple of ponds pressure more than the radiator cap specifies to prevent other damage. Most are around 1 Bar which = 14.7 Lbs"pounds", your handbook may say. Your local garage can confirm and fit radiator if you do not have the equipment to do this.

Hi buggy

Many thanks for this
I’ve found a radiator online which is fully aluminium updated with complete tmc pipes would this be a good choice ?

Any ideas on if this installation can be done diy any guides welcome and how long would it take
I do know the bumper needs to come off

Re the pipes would it be a good idea to replace the pipes with the silicon tmc pipes so I’m sure I have eliminated the leak ?

 

[bugsymike]

Hi buggy

Many thanks for this
I’ve found a radiator online which is fully aluminium updated with complete tmc pipes would this be a good choice ?

Any ideas on if this installation can be done diy any guides welcome and how long would it take
I do know the bumper needs to come off

Re the pipes would it be a good idea to replace the pipes with the silicon tmc pipes so I’m sure I have eliminated the leak ?

My knowledge is general after 50+ years in motortrade, there are other Forum members able to give specific advice on your model.

 

[Vafung19802]

Hi all radiator replaced and problem solved.

Took about 2hours of labour which I gladly did .

Bumper off wheels off and had a chance to inspect and clean all the areas that were caked in coolant .

Changed the oil and filter too made life easier with the bumper off

 

[ClassicFiat500]

Hi Varuna, looking at your photo can you tell me which is the condenser for the air con as opposed to the main radiator? The reason I ask my 2015 Anniverario (24,000 miles) is going into a Fiat agent (under extended warranty) this month due to the fact there is a leak on the air con gas its been topped up 3 times & keeps leaking. Fiat say’s the warranty will cover a “fault” but if the condenser is damaged from stone chips or road damage it is not under warranty. I would like to inspect the condenser prior to the car going in on the 17th this month, everyone knows how garages try & get out of repairs on warranty faults.

 

[Vafung19802]

Hi Varuna, looking at your photo can you tell me which is the condenser for the air con as opposed to the main radiator? The reason I ask my 2015 Anniverario (24,000 miles) is going into a Fiat agent (under extended warranty) this month due to the fact there is a leak on the air con gas its been topped up 3 times & keeps leaking. Fiat say’s the warranty will cover a “fault” but if the condenser is damaged from stone chips or road damage it is not under warranty. I would like to inspect the condenser prior to the car going in on the 17th this month, everyone knows how garages try & get out of repairs on warranty faults.

Hi
To be honest I did not look at the condenser but I do suspect it was Denso the same as the radiator,
Not sure though.

 

[ClassicFiat500]

Hi
To be honest I did not look at the condenser but I do suspect it was Denso the same as the radiator,
Not sure though.

My Air conditioning is now blowing cold, I took the car into Glyn Hopkins hoping they would correct the air con under my extended warranty NO! I left the car with them for the morning & when I collected it they presented me with a bill for £168 for doing a health check on the car. Did they do the job I asked ? NO ! “Sorry your AIR CON is not under our warranty”. 40 miles & 3 weeks prior to letting them have my car I took it to my non Fiat garage for an M.O.T it passed with no problems also a report on brakes & pads which were fine, however Glyn Hopkins in Milton Keynes said I need new disks, new pads, a new air con condenser, new timing tensioners all this they wanted £3000 The brakes they said needed immediate attention, they had the service history with the car that clearly shows everything is up to date & in good order. Not surprising I told them to get lost. I then took the car to G.P Auto’s in Milton Keynes they re-gassed the air con & also added a leak stop fluid as they said the gas leak was just a tiny pin prick of a hole it should do the job with no problem. Yes it has, so the moral is BE VERY CAREFUL what MAIN DEALERS TELL YOU! 2 weeks later & still blowing nice cold air

 

[RedAbarthMTA]

Hi Varuna, looking at your photo can you tell me which is the condenser for the air con as opposed to the main radiator? The reason I ask my 2015 Anniverario (24,000 miles) is going into a Fiat agent (under extended warranty) this month due to the fact there is a leak on the air con gas its been topped up 3 times & keeps leaking. Fiat say’s the warranty will cover a “fault” but if the condenser is damaged from stone chips or road damage it is not under warranty. I would like to inspect the condenser prior to the car going in on the 17th this month, everyone knows how garages try & get out of repairs on warranty faults.

Air Con radiator is always the front one, that's why it gets regularly stone damaged!