HELP! - '04 Astra - No coolant

DaveBH

Hi guys,

In a panic over this:

Coming home from work this eve the collant dash light began flashing on my 1.4 petrol Astra. When I got home the car's fan continued after I'd switched off the engine. I opened the bonnet and there was a tiny bit of steam/smoke. I checked the coolant tank - completely empty!

I bought a litre, added it and it just disappeared into the pipe system. Is that normal? Noticed a small wet patch on the ground under the engine after I'd added the coolant but certainly not a litre's worth.

Should I buy more and add it or is it likely something more sinister has happened?

I know I should check the coolant more often - D'oh!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated - Thanks.

Plug

Start the engine, turn the heater to hot but leave the setting a zero. Just top it up with water to the max mark and let us know how your getting on.

DaveBH

Thanks Plug,

I let the engine cool down and then took your advice. I just filled a kettle with water and poured it up to the "max" mark on the coolant reservoir. Started the car (no sign of coolant warning light now) and turned up the heat.

Looked under the car and there's a drip of liquid (the water I assume). It's hitting the ground at about a drip every second and seems to be getting out under the engine as opposed to up front from the radiator.

I get the feeling you're going to tell me this is SERIOUS?

Waiting nervously for a reply......

Thanks again in advance for your advice.

crosstownk

DaveBH wrote: »

I get the feeling you're going to tell me this is SERIOUS?

It might not be.

Open the bonnet and search for the leak. Use a torch if you can. The leak may be more evident with the engine running - but be careful, the engine is hot and that fan may kick in at any moment.

DaveBH

Okay, got underneath the car (engine running) with my torch. It's dripping from underneath the engine beside where the belt is running I think.

Sorry, I'm no mechanic. Is it safe to drive it in the morning somewhere to have it checked out (I'm guessing head gasket issue?) ? That said, does anyone know anywhere near Dun Laoghaire/Shankill/Cabinteely I could get it looked at tomorrow? Would Advance Pitstop be able to diagnose the problem?

BrianD3

Sounds like a weeping water pump. A new pump will probably cost around 50-80 euros and cost to fit it should be roughly the same as cost to fit a timing belt.

Esel

Dave, don't be thinking the worst! Odds are it's something less serious - a hose failed or loose, or water pump maybe. The water/coolant might be escaping from a point that is remote from where you see it dripping. Do what crosstownk said above - try to identify the source. Inspect the hoses, and the points where they are clipped to inlet/outlet points. Squeeze the hose - it should not be hard, but should compress and recover quickly. There should not be bulges. Do this part of the inspection with the engine off, and be very careful of belts and the fan if you are poking around with the engine running. Look at the radiator from front and rear with the engine running.

You could try adding a sealant - Novastop is excellent, but more expensive than Radweld. About €20 a can, but you should only need to use well less than half. It's mainly a radiator sealant afaik.

Can't help with advice on a mechanic, although a search of this forum might give a result? You should be safe to drive if you top up before setting off, bring a few litres of water with you, keep the heater on full (windows open!), and keep a close eye on the temp gauge. Know where you are heading before you set off though! If you don't identify a mechanic, you could certainly get it checked at Advance. Don't commit to any major work without being shown what is involved, and getting a written quote.

It is probably worth your while to use this opportunity to find a good local mechanic, and become a customer of theirs. Ask neighbours/friends if you don't get replies here or if the search does not throw anything up.

Lucifer, a poster here, is very knowledgeable on Opels. I'll link him to the thread, and if you're lucky enough that he spots it, he'll give you on-the-button advice.

DaveBH

Guys...

Thanks SO much for your help and advice.

The glass is now half full......so to speak

Dave

Lucifer

If you can see a leak near the belt (i presume you mean fan belt or timing belt), Its more than likely coming from one of two places. If it looks like it is coming from behind the timing belt cover (black plastic cover beside the fan belt) then it is likely to be your water pump. If it is this you will probably see it coming out near the crankshaft pulley on the bottom left side of the engine. The other likely place close to the belt would be the thermostat housing which is on the left side of the engine at the front. You will a large hose coming from this going to the radiatior. It could be either a leak between the housing and the engine block, or, there is a little plastic pipe that comes out the top of the housing that are prone to leak. Is like a little elbow piece with a hose coming from it over towards the coolant bottle. Have at look at both of these places and let us know if it seems like its either of them. If not describe it more or post a pic of something. If it is the water pump, you have to take the timing belt off so you should replace it and pulleys at the same time. Is not good for a belt to get wet and you may aswell change it while its off.

DaveBH

Got it looked at - water pump gone!

Sorted - Thanks again.

Plug

DaveBH wrote: »

Got it looked at - water pump gone!

Sorted - Thanks again.

You might as well get the timing belt done at the same time. Kill 2 birds with the one stone. I was always told to replace the water pump when doing the timing belt. Good maintance or something.
Was the timing belt done before and did they do the water pump with it?

DaveBH

I think it's a timing chain on the Astra? That said, I don't think the same danger applies so no need to replace at this point right?

Or am I completely wrong?!

Plug

DaveBH wrote: »

I think it's a timing chain on the Astra? That said, I don't think the same danger applies so no need to replace at this point right?

Or am I completely wrong?!

To replace a water pump the timing belt has to come off so it only makes sense to change it when there replacing the water pump rather than having to change it later down the line;)

Lucifer

It depends, in 04 the astra changed from the astra g to the astra h model. Astra g will be a z14xe engine, astra h will be a z14xep engine. the z14xe is a timing belt and the z14xep is a timing chain. If it is a belt, you should change this at the same time. If its a chain you are ok.

Esel

Dave, definitely replace the belt if there is one. You will only be paying for the part, which is cheap, as the belt will have to be removed and put back on anyway.

DaveBH

Thanks again guys for the advice. Lucifer has hit the nail on the proverbial head. It's a new-shape Astra from 04 which I assume means it's the Astra "H" you mentioned. So chain, no belt.

Lucifer

Then your not so bad. The leak is then either probably between the timing casing and the water pump itself, or there is a small pipe that comes out of the top of the water pump which is plastic (is steel on the new water pump) which can be a weak point, I have seen a few leak. It is joined to a thin hose that goes from there along the rocker cover and over to the throttle body. It it is from the water pump, to change it it is just a case of taking off the fan belt and the engine mount and swapping the water pump. If it is just the pipe, you can just swap the new metal one from the new water pump if you can get the plastic one out, would be easier but I would say you may aswell fit the water pump as you will have to buy one anyway.

Bulin

I have the same issue i seem to have a leak under the passanger side under the car through a hole

bazz26

all these old threads being resurrected, must something to do with the lunar eclipse or something.

Bulin

i googled and this what came up tryinmg to figure this all out mine the same not holding the collant

bazz26

Could well be a leak in the coolant tank, best advise is to have it looked at as otherwise you could be looking at a head gasket failure sooner rather than later.

biko

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