JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

well I took my blobeye off the road end of november because my tax ran out and i didnt really want to drive it in the snow (not my daily drive) well i kept starting the car about twice a week which was fine and then when we had all that snow i went out to the garage 1 day started her up and noticed steam from the from, had a quick look and thought well it might be because of the cold weather, well once all the snow had gone i started her up and pulled her out the garage and yup steam from the front, well i took my grill of and basically the radiator is wet above the horns on the right side (passenger side) i took it out for a short spin and left it running for a while but the area would not dry up but there is no water dripping on the floor, but in the garage there is water where the front of the car is. So basically its not pissing out, I can't see any water spraying out either so does that mean somehow when we had the freezing weather my rad has cracked/split?

Can anyone recommend where to start to diagnose this?
Many thanks is advance
Jazz

rumsey

i had this exact problem and i sorry to tell you that its my headgasket that has gone, it put to much pressure on the rad which made it leak. i need a new rad, gasket, water pump, timing belt kit and it aint cheap i really hope this isnt the case for you as i have been quoted today over £1000

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

hell no!!!!!!
I hope its not that as it was fine and only started after the freezing weather....

rumsey

mine has just gone over a freezing winter, i first thought it was my top hose so had that done, then i took it in for a new rad last wed but the garage rang me and said no point doing the rad as the gasket is gone so need it all doing. they couldnt even do it either so they could of taken my money and run but they were good enough to tell me before they did it.

bengo

iTrader: (17)

Don't panic mate, it's more likely to just be the radiator - they are prone to going.

Did the car ever overheat?

Ben

maydew

iTrader: (9)

start the car from cold and watch round the top off the rad,where the plastic meets the metal theres a seal there thats fails with age,check it all round both sides.

fill the rad and plastic tank when cold to mark and keep eye how much it loses.

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Rumsey - i'd get a second opinion before getting the head gasket done.

Lot's of garages seem to mis-diagnose leaks as head gasket problems.

bengo

iTrader: (17)

Had exactly the same on mine and hear about it all the time.

Where the plastic shroud on the top clips to the radiator, you get a leak (usually on the right side as well).

Replace the radiator first; cheap, DIY, and likely to solve it (as long as it hasn't over heated)..

Ben

maydew

iTrader: (9)

every winter you see these posts.i had exactly same but only noticed in -0 conditions

rumsey

yh i am gonna, is it best to get it pressure tested or how else can you tell?

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Pressure test is normally the best way, but also check for 'mayo' in the oil/water

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

no it didn't and still doesn't overheat, the fans come on as they should. The only problem i've got is my garage aint heated and as its still cold out there there's water over the rad and towards the bottom.
I also posted up a thread as to why we have 2 caps to fill the water from? Am i suppose to fill from the 1 by the intercooler or the 1 on the rad? as i've been told the pastic bottle to the right is the overflow bottle?
Is this correct?

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

No mayo in water/oil, as said before car was perfectly fine-> parked into the garage -> fine -> started it twice a week -> fine -> then mega cold weather -> not fine

rumsey

my car hasnt over heated and there is no mayo in the water either, there is alot of smoke from the exhaust and makes a weird cranking noise when the engine tries to start, just cant see that all coming from needing a new rad

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

that defo dont sound right rumsey, have you taken it to a specialist? I'm going to give zak a call from MOCOM see if he can have a look over mine. as well as getting some other bits done

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

ok guys I had another look this evening and where the radiator is on the top there was a sponge, i pulled this out and then saw there was a gap, basically looks like 2 rads. So the rad towards the front looks like its linked to the Air conditioning?
I have attached pics (mobile poor quality sorry) you can see in 1 of the pictures the wet area to the right and the left side dry.
Is this the a/c rad? And if so why is it leaking water and not gas?
Your help is much appreciated

Mifo

iTrader: (10)

I cant really see alot in the pics tbh. Best thing to do is start the car up and let it idle for at least 15 minutes whilst watching it to see where the water is leaking from.

Check the hoses these are prone to going, the bottom one is hard to see so just stick your hand in to see if its wet.

wrx fifer

iTrader: (34)

was it cold? pics are kind of shaky hard to make anything out in detail

mauricegb

I seem to have exactly the same issue as you on my blob eye. I've not had any steam but I do have a very slow leak on the passenger side.

I just looked today after getting home from work and saw some rapidly drying residue on the top of the rad where the plastic meets the 'toothed' shaped metal bit.

I've not had any overheating problems either so hopefully its just the rad, taking it to TFS racing for a look on Friday. Keep us updated!

Maurice

RadarvT

I have the very same symptoms on my bug eye. I've just pushed the button on a new rad.

wrx fifer

iTrader: (34)

is for this reason i think alot of people go for the aluminuim race radiators not just for the extra cooling etc but they are better made/quality these plastic ones are not great

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

Yea it was cold, i'l post some better pics up soon. But am i right in sayin that the radiator is behind some a/c type radiator? As it looks likes theres 2? The front 1 is quite thin...

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

Hi mate yea sounds jus like mine, although when i looked last nite it looks like i've got 2 radiators? So hoping some1 can clarify this for me.....

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

ok well i spoke with Zak from MOCOM and he said is the a/c rad by the sounds of it, shes booked in to see zak nextweek, i'll let you guys know how i got on.
thanks to everyone that replied

JazzRST

iTrader: (1)

sorry to hear that mate, not once to hear that news and only having owned your car 14 days ago.