Car is broken
09 February 2009, 08:17 AM
#1
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Car is broken
Right
My car decided to break this morning.......
Right started the car no problem..... Sat an let it try defrost.
Car went to normal temp quicker than normal then the heaters stayed cold.......
I drove it about 1 mile an noticed the temp going up slowly an the fan was on.
Stopped an checked the radiator hoses an they were warm as they should be.
But noticed my expansion tank had filled right up
Now the car overheats very quickly an the fan goes on.
Cold heaters aswell. It does have anti freeze in it.
Wonder is the head gone
Was VERY cold last night. Minus 10s i think
OR did the thermostat stay closed.... Wonder would i of done any damage as when i limped home the temp went just below red then i turned it off
EDIT - Also opened the radiator an had to put more in it. not alot tho it looked ike the stuff had all been "pushed" back into the expansion tank
My car decided to break this morning.......
Right started the car no problem..... Sat an let it try defrost.
Car went to normal temp quicker than normal then the heaters stayed cold.......
I drove it about 1 mile an noticed the temp going up slowly an the fan was on.
Stopped an checked the radiator hoses an they were warm as they should be.
But noticed my expansion tank had filled right up
Now the car overheats very quickly an the fan goes on.
Cold heaters aswell. It does have anti freeze in it.
Wonder is the head gone
Was VERY cold last night. Minus 10s i think
OR did the thermostat stay closed.... Wonder would i of done any damage as when i limped home the temp went just below red then i turned it off
EDIT - Also opened the radiator an had to put more in it. not alot tho it looked ike the stuff had all been "pushed" back into the expansion tank
Last edited by Connor_scotland; 09 February 2009 at 08:21 AM.
09 February 2009, 08:22 AM
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I know you said you have Antifreeze but you sure no pipes were frozen ? It could of still be frozen in the block mate and heater mate ? Also could of smashed the water pump to pieces if iced up.
Minus 10 is pretty bad mate even with antifreeze and some Antifeeze don't go down that low.
Is the water/antifreeze free flowing on the return pipe to the header tank ?
Good luck mate but let us know what you find ?
Minus 10 is pretty bad mate even with antifreeze and some Antifeeze don't go down that low.
Is the water/antifreeze free flowing on the return pipe to the header tank ?
Good luck mate but let us know what you find ?
Last edited by cossie-nutter; 09 February 2009 at 08:23 AM.
09 February 2009, 08:22 AM
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09 February 2009, 08:29 AM
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As for the water pump no real way of telling apart from the test above to see if it's flowing back. (Means it's pumping water around the system!)
If the water pump was iced up and when the car is started and its being forced to moved in frozen ice something is bound to give.
Could always do the large screw driver trick and holding it onto the water pump and put your ear on the other end to see if you can hear any bad noises from it. (A non moving part that is!)
Last edited by cossie-nutter; 09 February 2009 at 08:31 AM.
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09 February 2009, 08:58 AM
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as above check the pump is returning coolant, also test your thermostat buddy.
im not sure if subarus have plastic impellors on the pump like a lot of cars/vans do, they are brittle and break off the steel shaft
im not sure if subarus have plastic impellors on the pump like a lot of cars/vans do, they are brittle and break off the steel shaft
09 February 2009, 09:03 AM
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If you are running a 50-50 mixture then -10 will present no problem whatsoever. You would be good to well below what you will likely see in Scotland.
09 February 2009, 09:34 AM
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If the pump is working and returning properly I would then change the thermostat and put a very strong mix of Antifreeze in. Pity your not near me as I could sell you a very strong mix for £30 for 5 Gallons! 
Is there any water oil mix on the dip stick or the other way round in the head tank?
Is there any water oil mix on the dip stick or the other way round in the head tank?
09 February 2009, 09:41 AM
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Nope never looked like any mixture or mayo
I will get anti freeze from my bro he works for Transerve an said he has some "hardcore" stuff lol
Just got a new thermostat 3 months ago. Will i cause an airlock if i take it off
Thanks for the help
I will get anti freeze from my bro he works for Transerve an said he has some "hardcore" stuff lol
Just got a new thermostat 3 months ago. Will i cause an airlock if i take it off
Thanks for the help
09 February 2009, 10:17 AM
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make sure the antifreeze is compatible with aluminium 
when I had a faulty water pump on mine, it was leaking in that area.
The impellers are metal on the scoob to answer an earlier post above
when I had a faulty water pump on mine, it was leaking in that area. The impellers are metal on the scoob to answer an earlier post above
09 February 2009, 10:19 AM
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also check the end tanks on the radiator for any signs of coolant leakage, if yours has the plastic endcaps then they can split under pressure causing a loss of coolant
09 February 2009, 12:09 PM
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I always leave the water cap off, let it run for a bit, giving the top and bottom rad hoses a squeeze. Never had any problems.
Did you see the smashed turbo on Ebay?
Did you see the smashed turbo on Ebay?
09 February 2009, 12:10 PM
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Apart from that good luck, hope it turns out to be a cheap and easy fix.
09 February 2009, 12:21 PM
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hows the level of water/coolant in your header tank? if its low or empty i would expect haedgasket failure, last year i was getting mapped from andy he diagnosed me with a fcuked headgasket, the lack of heat comming from your heaters could be down to the lack of coolant circulating your system
09 February 2009, 01:08 PM
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Right
Went home at lunch. Checked the pipes etc. Noticed ALOT of snow/ice from the otehr night round the bottom pipe. Got a warm kettle not boiling.. covered the raditatot started the car an let it heat up to normal temp
It stayed there an never overheated.
The expansion tank was sitting at full well a bit overfilled tbh.
Took the car a good thrash for 5 miles an rechecked the expansion tank an its fine. Heaters are working, no wierd noises. Radiator is hot.. Hopefully thats it fine
I think i need a stronger coolant mix
How would i go about draining the coolant and i will be using ready mixed coolant( how much do i need)
Thanks
Went home at lunch. Checked the pipes etc. Noticed ALOT of snow/ice from the otehr night round the bottom pipe. Got a warm kettle not boiling.. covered the raditatot started the car an let it heat up to normal temp
It stayed there an never overheated.
The expansion tank was sitting at full well a bit overfilled tbh.
Took the car a good thrash for 5 miles an rechecked the expansion tank an its fine. Heaters are working, no wierd noises. Radiator is hot.. Hopefully thats it fine
I think i need a stronger coolant mix
How would i go about draining the coolant and i will be using ready mixed coolant( how much do i need)
Thanks
Last edited by Connor_scotland; 09 February 2009 at 01:09 PM.
09 February 2009, 03:10 PM
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Sounds like you have had a very very lucky escape!
I would buy neet coolant/Antifreeze and water it down alittle so its still a good mix, I would also put a blanket over the bonnet at nights just to stop the cold air getting in the vents.
Its easy to change the antifreeze mate, There "should" be a bleed hole at the bottom of the rad,(Drivers side!) and also undo the top or rad hose, let it all out and also stick your gob over the header tank and give a good blow to release the water from the block! You wont get it all out but that will be fine. then put all pipes back and bleed hole and fill up with antifreeze squeezing the water pipes until the header tank wont take no more, Then run the car letting it warm up and still squeeze the water pipes to help get the air out. Job done! (Next day may just need to top up alttile!)
I would buy neet coolant/Antifreeze and water it down alittle so its still a good mix, I would also put a blanket over the bonnet at nights just to stop the cold air getting in the vents.
Its easy to change the antifreeze mate, There "should" be a bleed hole at the bottom of the rad,(Drivers side!) and also undo the top or rad hose, let it all out and also stick your gob over the header tank and give a good blow to release the water from the block! You wont get it all out but that will be fine. then put all pipes back and bleed hole and fill up with antifreeze squeezing the water pipes until the header tank wont take no more, Then run the car letting it warm up and still squeeze the water pipes to help get the air out. Job done!
(Next day may just need to top up alttile!)
glad to hear its good news.
09 February 2009, 07:44 PM
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hows the level of water/coolant in your header tank? if its low or empty i would expect haedgasket failure, last year i was getting mapped from andy he diagnosed me with a fcuked headgasket, the lack of heat comming from your heaters could be down to the lack of coolant circulating your system
Still managed to get it mapped though
Limped back to the Northwest, just.
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