Bora TDI - coolant warning on dash

heartofwhite

Hi everyone,

So I have a 2001 Bora TDI (red D, red I) and on Monday the warning message came up on the dash - 'STOP check coolant'. I did check it and it was just below minimum level. I topped it up and went on my way. This morning it happened again. I checked and it had dropped to just below once again which to me suggests a leak somewhere.

Can anyone with experience of this provide me with a list of possible alternative factors before I go crying to a garage? The car is serviced regularly (last done a month ago) and is in good condition. I drive motorway miles 99.9% of the time, about 700 per week if that makes any difference.

Cheers!

kavanada

Easiest things to do at the moment are check inside of oil cap for a yellow scum, like mustard.

Was the timing belt/water pump changed recently?

Failing that, have a look around the coolant pipes for leaks at the junctions where they meet the radiator. They're the big black rubber ones if you're not too much up to speed on car stuff. If there is a leak at one of these junctions, there should be a sign similar to lime scale in water that dries out. It's like a residue.

Special Circumstances

Does the expansion tank on these give trouble? A little split along the seam somewhere? Or a poorly sealing cap?
Remember some aquaintance having some trouble like that.

heartofwhite

kavanada wrote: »

Easiest things to do at the moment are check inside of oil cap for a yellow scum, like mustard.

Was the timing belt/water pump changed recently?

Failing that, have a look around the coolant pipes for leaks at the junctions where they meet the radiator. They're the big black rubber ones if you're not too much up to speed on car stuff. If there is a leak at one of these junctions, there should be a sign similar to lime scale in water that dries out. It's like a residue.

The timing belt and pump were changed about six months ago so I would not be concerned about that as this is the first instance of the warning light. Thanks for the advice, I will check the oil cap and coolant pipes this evening for any signs. From reading forums, some people seem to think it could a problem with the gasket. I am hoping it is just a small leak.

kavanada

Ok.

Yeah, head gasket would be the worst outcome.

Hopefully just a spilt pipe or loose connection.

enumbers

Worth checking around the rad for any sign of pink staining very seldom you will a visible leak unless you have the system pressure tested

mickdw

There was a problem I seem to remember with head gasket on 115 bhp red d, red I around the early 2000s

Get a competent mechanic to go through it.

enumbers

that wasnt that common and should of shown up a long time ago if was going to

Tony Beetroot

Car loosing coolant and majority blaming head gasket, I wouldnt go dismantling the engine just yet op.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

dooroy

K-Seal I think is the one you're thinking of .
Have heard good reports of it - even worked well on leaking head gaskets for some.
However I would have a good check over the engine - and as pointed out small leaks can be very hard to find sometimes. You need to get a good look from above and below. A leak can sometimes be impossible to see from above but clearly visible from below. The pink residue can sometimes help to show it up .
Have a good look at the rad especially in the corners .
And don't forget the heater rad under the dash - windows fogging up more than usual or carpet wet etc
Pressure testing would be the way to go - if you can find someone to do it .

George Dalton

Do not put any of that leak stopper sh1te into it anyway. That stuff causes more issues than it solves.

ba_barabus

George Dalton wrote: »

Do not put any of that leak stopper sh1te into it anyway. That stuff causes more issues than it solves.

Exactly. OP look for visible signs of a leak otherwise have it pressure tested to find the source.

vandriver

Water pumps can be faulty from new.I got my t belt and pump done recently and a leak developed over the next 2-3 months in the new water pump.(Before anyone asks,the garage took it in and replaced the faulty pump without quibble!)

ShaunieVW

Expansion tanks are well known for cracking on these, caps can go bad too, they are cheap enough from the dealer so hopefully it's just that, my a3 was doing the same a while back but it turned out to be the plastic pipe that the temp sensor sits into had cracked. Different engine but same chassis so they may share components. Worth checking. Again it was a cheap enough fix.