99 4efe corolla coolant level dropping

steve3194

Hi, my car seems to be losing coolant gradually over the past few months. Ive had to top up the radiator today the last time I did was just over a month ago. I haven't had any problems with the car overheating. I changed the radiator cap to see if that fixed the problem but the coolant still seems to drop. Before I filled it today I couldn't see any coolant when I opened the cap however the cap was still wet.

I can see no visable leaks under the car. I also checked around the water pump and see no leaks there either. Engine oil doesn't appear cloudy.

One more thing I've noticed is that when I start the car in the mornings when it's cold, I can heat water moving around the dash I presume this is the coolant. Is it normal that I should be able to hear it?

Also one final question. Should the radiator be full to the top when cold or or should it be low and then expand.

Really hoping you guys can shed some light on this for me as I've just had the cars exhaust repaired for NCT and I'm hoping I won't have to spend big money on it.

Thanks in advance

PS. I have been using prestone 50/50 coolant

emeldc

If you can hear the water sloshing around in the morning, then there is probably air in the system. Get that sorted first by bleeding it out and take it from there. I'm not sure how you bleed that particular model.

whizbang

new rad cap should sort it.

check pipes on overflow tank are clear and solid.

greasepalm

any taste in mouth or stains/hazing on windscreen when you have internal heat on pointing to windscreen? internal rad weeping.
next will be to look at bottom of rad any stains/crusting of antifreeze,also check rubber water hoses at both ends,next look at rear of engine for 2 hoses entering bulk head they are the heater hoses as they can go weak there due to flexing.

steve3194

Had it with mechanic last night. Turns out the water pump is leaking. It is just trickling out so that why I don't need to top it up very often. Will have to get it fixed. He said he'll get me a price. Any idea what I should be expecting?

Avns1s

steve3194 wrote: »

Had it with mechanic last night. Turns out the water pump is leaking. It is just trickling out so that why I don't need to top it up very often. Will have to get it fixed. He said he'll get me a price. Any idea what I should be expecting?

I wouldn't leave it long. It can become a major leak pretty quickly and you could lose your coolant going along the road with severe consequences.

Water pump is probably 35-50, have a look on somewhere like micksgarage.ie yourself. Fitting is probably close on 2 hours.

steve3194

Avns1s wrote: »

I wouldn't leave it long. It can become a major leak pretty quickly and you could lose your coolant going along the road with severe consequences.
Water pump is probably 35-50, have a look on somewhere like micksgarage.ie yourself. Fitting is probably close on 2 hours.

I had a look on Mick's garage your right the part is between 35 and 50. I remember my dad had to get his Peugeot 307s water pump done and it ended up being 300 euros. He did get the timing belt done at the same time though. Obviously that contributed to the price just not sure how much

greasepalm

when was your timing belt done? be worth doing as most of stuff be stripped to access pump.your car has external fanbelts to drive the waterpump and other things.
peugeot and other makes have the pump driven by timing belt and all tensioners and guides replaced with it.by not replacing all with a kit something will go and wreck your engine.