Engine Coolant Tank
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Engine Coolant Tank
Well guys,
for my 100 post I will give you all a tip.
Don't do as I did with my coolant tank.
I recently changed all my fluids after buying the car and was fairly pleased with myself for completing them all .
However just before my Oulton park track day I realised the coolant was a little higher than the mark on the tank by about 15mm.
I know I will put a tissue in the top and suck some of it out. "DO NOT DO THIS".
You don't have to be a genius to guess what happened .
The tissue that got wet fell into the tank. oh FFS...! Was the cry.
I then used my suction pump which was sat on the garage shelf to draw out all the tissue I could and some of the fluid. (yes I know ,why did I not use this in the first place?)
Anyhow I then topped it back up to the correct level only to find the low level warning light will now not extinguish.
I have fiddled with it , fluid in ,fluid out but to no avail. At the moment I have had to disconnect the sensor as it drives me mad looking at it.
I am tempted to take it off and flush it about a bit to see if I can move the float inside , if there is one that is , or to put a cleaning agent in and shake it about whilst its off. I have been told it may damage the connector to the radiator if I take it off though and I don't want to do this at the moment with a track day at Blyton coming up.
Any ideas guys?
Apart from think before I act in future...!
for my 100 post I will give you all a tip.
Don't do as I did with my coolant tank.
I recently changed all my fluids after buying the car and was fairly pleased with myself for completing them all .
However just before my Oulton park track day I realised the coolant was a little higher than the mark on the tank by about 15mm.
I know I will put a tissue in the top and suck some of it out. "DO NOT DO THIS".
You don't have to be a genius to guess what happened .
The tissue that got wet fell into the tank. oh FFS...! Was the cry.
I then used my suction pump which was sat on the garage shelf to draw out all the tissue I could and some of the fluid. (yes I know ,why did I not use this in the first place?)
Anyhow I then topped it back up to the correct level only to find the low level warning light will now not extinguish.
I have fiddled with it , fluid in ,fluid out but to no avail. At the moment I have had to disconnect the sensor as it drives me mad looking at it.
I am tempted to take it off and flush it about a bit to see if I can move the float inside , if there is one that is , or to put a cleaning agent in and shake it about whilst its off. I have been told it may damage the connector to the radiator if I take it off though and I don't want to do this at the moment with a track day at Blyton coming up.
Any ideas guys?
Apart from think before I act in future...!
- bunch1980
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
The coolant light coming on is a common issue, iffy sensors or something many disconnect and keep an eye on level. I think I would flush tank unless sure all tissue is out. On mine light comes in when on various inclines so suggests it works as level rises and falls and it maybe a bit low in level I think to though hard to see level.
- warpc0il
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
Thanks Guys.
I had been looking for a picture of the tank innards without success so appreciate the pics warpc0il.
May try to take it off in next week or so and give it a good hose piping and cillitt bang to see if it dislodges the float.
Regards
Rob
I had been looking for a picture of the tank innards without success so appreciate the pics warpc0il.
May try to take it off in next week or so and give it a good hose piping and cillitt bang to see if it dislodges the float.
Regards
Rob
- warpc0il
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
I wouldn't use any type of detergent as it will just make the float more porous.
The inside of the tank is quite complex
:
The inside of the tank is quite complex
:
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
Had another play with this today to no avail.
Managed to get a piece of copper wire(from a piece of 2.5mm electrical cable) between the slots inside the tank and hook the little float piece up. This made the light go out until it falls straight back down.
Someone mentioned earlier that they lose there waterproof coating and get waterlogged and will not float ,which is whats happened to mine by the look of it.
I have sourced a second hand replacement tank and tested it on my wiring connection and it puts the light out so I will just swap them over hopefully.
Managed to get a piece of copper wire(from a piece of 2.5mm electrical cable) between the slots inside the tank and hook the little float piece up. This made the light go out until it falls straight back down.
Someone mentioned earlier that they lose there waterproof coating and get waterlogged and will not float ,which is whats happened to mine by the look of it.
I have sourced a second hand replacement tank and tested it on my wiring connection and it puts the light out so I will just swap them over hopefully.
- warpc0il
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
Yep thanks warpc0il , I've heard that on here as well.
Will be extra careful with it and try and remove hose from tank end very gently.
Really don't want to be buying a radiator at the minute...
Will be extra careful with it and try and remove hose from tank end very gently.
Really don't want to be buying a radiator at the minute...
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
Well latest update guys,
swapped the tank today for one I bought of a fellow member on here.
Tricky to get off and I had to take the battery and battery holder off to get better access.
Undoing the hoses is not too easy unless you have a pair of long nose pliers which I didn't, to undo the spring clips that clamp the pipes on the tank.
I took the main hose off which attaches to the top of the tank near the engine as I couldn't get access on the tank after trying for ages.
This allowed me to then move the tank out a bit to get to the hose underneath which goes to the top of the radiator and is the delicate one.
Think I managed to do it without snapping it off the rad or causing a leak but will need to check in the morning, but all seemed ok when I left it tonight.
I have attached a pic of the tricky little hose that attaches to the tank from underneath it and the top of the radiator and is a bit delicate.
swapped the tank today for one I bought of a fellow member on here.
Tricky to get off and I had to take the battery and battery holder off to get better access.
Undoing the hoses is not too easy unless you have a pair of long nose pliers which I didn't, to undo the spring clips that clamp the pipes on the tank.
I took the main hose off which attaches to the top of the tank near the engine as I couldn't get access on the tank after trying for ages.
This allowed me to then move the tank out a bit to get to the hose underneath which goes to the top of the radiator and is the delicate one.
Think I managed to do it without snapping it off the rad or causing a leak but will need to check in the morning, but all seemed ok when I left it tonight.
I have attached a pic of the tricky little hose that attaches to the tank from underneath it and the top of the radiator and is a bit delicate.
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
My last words on this subject guys, I hear the groans...!
I have cut the old tank open to show the little black float thing.
Mine did not float anymore which was the problem, as it sank to the bottom triggering the warning light. See picture of non floating float in a glass below.
Anyway if anyone else has the warning light issue ,hopefully this will allow you to understand what is wrong without wasting lots of time on research.
Regards
Rob.
I have cut the old tank open to show the little black float thing.
Mine did not float anymore which was the problem, as it sank to the bottom triggering the warning light. See picture of non floating float in a glass below.
Anyway if anyone else has the warning light issue ,hopefully this will allow you to understand what is wrong without wasting lots of time on research.
Regards
Rob.
- acegeezer
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
It's a known issue.. which is why people just unplug the sensor, it may well be coincidental in your case
Cost approx £140 to replace the tank + sensor
Cost approx £140 to replace the tank + sensor
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Re: Engine Coolant Tank
Yep did it for £40 after buying one from a good fellow member on here.
I don't really like unplugging sensors if possible. Always on my mind ,if its causing a problem unbeknown to me.
Regards
Rob.
I don't really like unplugging sensors if possible. Always on my mind ,if its causing a problem unbeknown to me.
Regards
Rob.