OK orgy lot- car question..brains in gear!

[blueto]

miss blueto has developed a water leak on her 1.2 16v sxi corsa 53 plate.

Here is the problem......No leak when the engine is cold ....engine gets hot expansion tank pressurizes and water starts leaking form under the timing belt form the side of the engine.

Now....it seems to low to be a head gasket problem thus there being no water in the oil or vice versa so im thiinking water pump..but that is located near the top of the engine.

Suppose my question is . does anyone know if there re any other gaskets located round this area or components that it may be ?

I hae posted on a corsa forum but the seem to be more interested in there over 18s shed then anything else!!!!!


Any help will be greatley appreciated[-o<

thanks all#

Ross

[Biker_Billy]

just a guess, as its a problem I had with my escort - but could be the gasket which is on the thermostat?

[Blue_SV650S]

I take it when you say hot, you mean not cold e.g. a coupla mins after starting up, not the thing has been running a while and is in the red??? :scratch:

Don't get sidetracked by where the water is escaping when pressure is too great (it is just the weakest point, not that that had failed), there is only one thing that can cause excessive pressure in the expansion tank and that is where those high pressure pump things are exposed to the water jacket!!! ;) Its either the head gasket or a crack in the head/block!! :shock:

[timwilky]

I initially thought water pump, but as I don't own a corsa thought I had better check. Apparently the thermostat housing is behind the timing belt. So that is where I would be looking first.

You need to remove timing belt and sprocket to get to it. So guess that is the time to change the belt as well

[Blue_SV650S]

Sounds more like water pump. It will be driven off the timing belt. Normally the most obvious cause and last looked at because it being a pain to get to, replace etc.

Again, unless he is letting the car get so hot it is boiling (why I did my initial question before making the other statement), how would that increase pressure in the expansion tank?? :scratch:

[markmoto]

waterpump :-)

[Blue_SV650S]

waterpump :-)

Sorry to harp on, but can someone explain to me how a blown water pump increases pressure in the expansion bottle*?!?! :scratch:

*with the exception of someone letting the car consequently run low on fluid as it is piddling out the pump and the remaining fluid it getting hot hot hot and the water that is left boiling up when it hits non submerged metal ...

[markmoto]

Sorry to harp on, but can someone explain to me how a blown water pump increases pressure in the expansion bottle*?!?! :scratch:


An engine is essensialy like a kettle, small cars will heat up and pressurise there cooling system in very little time probably around 5 minutes, with this extra pressure obviously any leaks will make themselves apparent. It needs proper investigation but the most likely cause is the waterpump seal.

[Blue_SV650S]

An engine is essensialy like a kettle, small cars will heat up and pressurise there cooling system in very little time probably around 5 minutes, with this extra pressure obviously any leaks will make themselves apparent. It needs proper investigation but the most likely cause is the waterpump seal.

I read it as meaning excessive pressure in the expansion tank (which shouts head gasket) ... on a re-read, it might just mean that the car has got up to normal pressure and then indeed the pump seal is giving way ...

I think we need conformation as to if it is normal pressure or excessive pressure ...

[blueto]

all...


car is in the garage.....will post results on investigation.

roll in the repair bill!......

[blueto]

ok...


CAR IS BACK TO MISSY BLUETO.

Here is what the problem was.

in april miss blueto recieves a product recall notcie for the corsa saying the ABS moderator needs changing

So she books it in at the vauxhall garage. Vauxhall technician starts work and accidentally breaks the abs pump. (go figure)

She then is told that they have no spares and will be another week before they can get em in.

So they fix her car week later she gets it back.

Heres when the water problem first reared its head (although not mega at this time.)

There is a water pump housing that contains a small black plastic hose which is the input to the pump. This is the bit that was snapped And guess what. right next to the abs moderator that vauxahlls done!

LOL vauxhall would not sell my mechanic just the pipe and had to buy a new water pump and housing.

total repair bill including 3 hours labour (cash made a difference) was 160.00


Now.....................

the mechanic said this is the first time he has ever seen a pipe broke like this and said it would only break if leant on.....

Shall i approach vauxhalls asking for some money or not? problem is i would never really be able to prove it was them you see


or is it now a lost wedge?

[dirtydog]

I would approach them and see what they say, cant do any harm can it?

[markmoto]

best of luck mate but unless you kick up an almighty fuss you will get fobbed off i have worked for several main dealers and this is what they do best.

[blueto]

best of luck mate but unless you kick up an almighty fuss you will get fobbed off i have worked for several main dealers and this is what they do best.

i know...this is going to be hard to prove that they actually bust the pipe. but on the other foot where the pipe is located under the moderator it could only have been broken if the moderatore was removed..(which is what the car went in for)

Ill think i may write one letter see what they say. :smt024