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Engine Overheating Due To Radiator Problems
Topic Started: Jan 5 2010, 09:31 AM (1,251 Views)
4815162342
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Hi Guys,

Ive pretty much had this problem with the car since I brought it. The water would always slowly go down in the radiator. We took it to our mechanic, he pressure tested it and said the radiator was fine (this was a couple of years ago).

I seem to have to keep topping it up every couple of weeks as it would go down. Then (this has happened probably about 6 times over the last 2 years) I'd look down and the cars temp gauge would be going up to the red level. So I'd pull over, top it up (it'd be near empty) then drive on.

Mechanics never really could find where the leak was coming from.

Now lately the water is pouring out the bottom of the radiator (the bit that connects to the radiator down the bottom). We took it to the mechanic, who replaced the bottom bit. A couple of weeks later the same thing happened. This time he said that the pressure is building up and that we need to get the radiator system looked at.

It's a damn pain in the ass. At the start it would just leak slowly and need topping up, now the pressure seems to be building and this causes the bottom bit to blow off making the water pour out.

I don't really care how much this costs to fix I just want it fixed!

Does anybody here have an Idea of what could be causing it (the leak and the bottom bit being blown off)? Apparently the water pump was replaced before I purchased the car.

thanks



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greeneyes
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Get a leak-down test done on the head gasket...

If compression is slowly leaking into the cooling system it will push water out when the thermostat is closed, and then have no effect once the engine warms up. So you lose a little water every day.

They take out a spark plug and apply compressed air to that cylinder, then watch the pressure drop and check for bubbles appearing in the radiator.

You can check yourself by starting it w/o a radiator cap on and watching the water in the rad until the thermostat opens. Bubbles coming up then are the symptom of a leaking head gasket.

You can also buy a kit that with a plastic cylinder you put over the radiator opening and it has a chemical the detects exhaust fumes in the water.

Hopefully its not the head gasket, I haven't heard of anyone having head problems on Altezzas yet.
The Girl's KE70-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/42407-the-girls-ke70/
How NOT to build a rally car-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/64027...ld-a-rally-car/
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Maccabro
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4815162342,Jan 5 2010
10:31 AM
Hi Guys,

Ive pretty much had this problem with the car since I brought it. The water would always slowly go down in the radiator. We took it to our mechanic, he pressure tested it and said the radiator was fine (this was a couple of years ago).

I seem to have to keep topping it up every couple of weeks as it would go down. Then (this has happened probably about 6 times over the last 2 years) I'd look down and the cars temp gauge would be going up to the red level. So I'd pull over, top it up (it'd be near empty) then drive on.

Mechanics never really could find where the leak was coming from.

Now lately the water is pouring out the bottom of the radiator (the bit that connects to the radiator down the bottom). We took it to the mechanic, who replaced the bottom bit. A couple of weeks later the same thing happened. This time he said that the pressure is building up and that we need to get the radiator system looked at.

It's a damn pain in the ass. At the start it would just leak slowly and need topping up, now the pressure seems to be building and this causes the bottom bit to blow off making the water pour out.

I don't really care how much this costs to fix I just want it fixed!

Does anybody here have an Idea of what could be causing it (the leak and the bottom bit being blown off)? Apparently the water pump was replaced before I purchased the car.

thanks

sounds like a blown headgasket, i had the exact same thing happen in my v3 sti wrx, it was pressurising the radiator system a pushing all the coolant into my overflow bottle and then of course that would then overflow and loose the coolant.
bugger if it is!!!! :wacko:
altezza 3sge + apexi ax53b60 turbo kit + cwest body kit/ bonnet + modelista angel eye HID head lights +18" enkei NT03 + zeal adjusties + ........................more!
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4815162342
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Would I not have noticed water in the oil? Or can it leak somewhere else.
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Maccabro
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4815162342,Jan 5 2010
12:24 PM
Would I not have noticed water in the oil? Or can it leak somewhere else.

only if it blows between the cylinder and a oil gallery, if it blows between the cylinder and water jacket thats where it pressurises the radiator.
altezza 3sge + apexi ax53b60 turbo kit + cwest body kit/ bonnet + modelista angel eye HID head lights +18" enkei NT03 + zeal adjusties + ........................more!
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greeneyes
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A little water may leak back into the cylinders as it cools overnight, and can make it hard to start or drop a cylinder momentarily when the water condenses on the plugs, but it may not show this.

The oil system may not get involved at all, so there may not be oil in the radiator or water under the oil filler cap.
The Girl's KE70-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/42407-the-girls-ke70/
How NOT to build a rally car-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/64027...ld-a-rally-car/
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4815162342
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Okay thanks, so the car should be going to a proper mechanic not a radiator guy?

Head gaskets cost a few thousand to fix aye?
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Maccabro
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4815162342,Jan 5 2010
12:30 PM
Okay thanks, so the car should be going to a proper mechanic not a radiator guy?

Head gaskets cost a few thousand to fix aye?

yes a proper mechanic would be a good start mate! and yes could cost $1000+ depending on if the head needs skimming etc etc.
altezza 3sge + apexi ax53b60 turbo kit + cwest body kit/ bonnet + modelista angel eye HID head lights +18" enkei NT03 + zeal adjusties + ........................more!
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2ToneTezza
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Definitely has some of the symptoms of a head gasket leak :( another telltale sign is if you're getting water vapor from the exhaust even when properly warm (you get some on startup normally anyway). like mentioned earlier, get a compression test done, it's the only way to know for sure.
If its only minor you might find you can temporarily fix it (until you can raise cash for doing it properly) using a product like Irontite, i've fould it has worked well for me in the past.
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Quote:
 
If its only minor you might find you can temporarily fix it (until you can raise cash for doing it properly) using a product like Irontite, i've fould it has worked well for me in the past.


yeah I have used this stuff before. Seemed to do a okay job. It never used to blow this bottom bit off before though so I didn't worry about it too much.
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madaltezza
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the whater pumps leak on them how meany km has it done
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4815162342
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the whater pumps leak on them how meany km has it done


Its only done around 15k since i have had it. The water pump was supposed to be replaced just before I purchased it.
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4815162342
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You guys were right...blown headgasket.


Gunna cost me 2k to fix. Car will be ready next Friday.

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greeneyes
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Don't fret, years ago I put the Cifero in to have the idle 'chuff' fixed (leaking gasket I was sure) while we went overseas.

Came back to a $5000 bill for replacing the head gasket and valve seats.. and the turbo whined from that day on!

Needless to say I never went back to Turbo Vehicles, or bought a 24valve motor again!

Anyway, you need to find out what caused the gasket to fail, they don't do it without a reason- Maybe overheated one time & warped the head, poor ignition timing causing pinking (shouldn't be possible on an Altezza) and whatever else.
The Girl's KE70-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/42407-the-girls-ke70/
How NOT to build a rally car-
http://www.rollaclub.com/board/topic/64027...ld-a-rally-car/
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Soiled Altezza
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2k Just to replace the headgasket? Or has it done more damage than just that?
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Nah I dont mind. 2k not too bad.

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Anyway, you need to find out what caused the gasket to fail, they don't do it without a reason- Maybe overheated one time & warped the head


Yeah you got it, it overheated once. (like a good year and a half ago)



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2k Just to replace the headgasket? Or has it done more damage than just that?


They said between $1500 and $2000 to fix it. Depending on how much damage done. They will give me a call if its going to cost more than 2k.
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Leiden
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Bro, I would have done it for you for a Box of Beer and Gas to get there and back. Shit son...
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4815162342
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Bro, I would have done it for you for a Box of Beer and Gas to get there and back. Shit son...


Thanks for the offer man, I just hope this fixes the issues I have been having once and for all.

Can't wait till next Friday, sucks ass not having a car to get around in
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Distrb
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$1.5 - 2k? shit i'd have done it for you for miles less, and im local.

hope it all works out
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Well I got it back today. All seems well. Came to $2140.

Most expensive things were:
cylinder head work, machine, test and valve grind @ 370
a new thermostat @ 80
new radiator top tank @ 220
new gasket @ 285
and a wof @ 42
then 700 for technicians fee.
another hundred all up for: radiator cap, heater hose, hose clip, exhaust nuts & studs (apparently broken), anti freeze, oil filter, oil, parts cleaner and sundries.

So it looks like they did a pretty thorough job and hopefully I will have no further problems :)
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xnickx
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Good you got your car back.

Odd about the thermostat, genuine ones RRP at only $26+gst?

And the gasket is about half that >.<

All well now?
Contacting me for parts

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4815162342
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Haha yeah I'm not surprised they charged me an arm and a leg for all the extras.

I'm pretty sure they have done a good job. North City Motors in Tawa, Porirua did it. I don't mind paying more for a thorough job.

Car seems to be running great, I might be imagining it but the car seems to be idling much better (smooth and consistent) and not all over the place like before.
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