Engine warning light, whining sound and temp off the gauge

Call the midlife! · July 31, 2019, 16:55

Quote from: househead on July 31, 2019, 16:52Coolant-wise, will this do?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vetech-20L-Antifreeze-Summer-Coolant-20-Litre-Blue-Anti-Freeze-Engine/302495000553

£33 for 20l (mixed) and a further 20% off if ordered before tomo. Or do I want the red stuff?

Ideally you want OAT, have you tried Opie Oils, they always have offers and discounts on or just use the ROC discount and make sure your order is enough to get free delivery.

1979scotte · July 31, 2019, 17:05

Euro Carparts is OAT.
I know Carolyn likes to mix her own but to me it's a faff.

househead · July 31, 2019, 18:16

Quote from: 1979scotte on July 31, 2019, 17:05Euro Carparts is OAT.
I know Carolyn likes to mix her own but to me it's a faff.

There's one just down the road from me. I'll have a looky there tomorrow.

I did check on Opie but they appear to be out of stock (and also a bit expeno, discount aside).

moredun · July 31, 2019, 18:37

raidiator lower mounting rubbers?

Mine was well gone when I went to change my raidator $:-\$

househead · July 31, 2019, 18:59

Quote from: moredun on July 31, 2019, 18:37raidiator lower mounting rubbers?
Mine was well gone when I went to change my raidator $:-\$

Sounds like a job that might need doing and if not, might be worth doing anyway.

Where can I find these / what do I need to look for exactly?

The rubber bits from these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-Mk3-Roadster-Radiator-Mount-Brackets-and-Rubbers-Pair/113792649099

1979scotte · July 31, 2019, 19:59

Quote from: househead on July 31, 2019, 18:16
Quote from: 1979scotte on July 31, 2019, 17:05Euro Carparts is OAT.
I know Carolyn likes to mix her own but to me it's a faff.

There's one just down the road from me. I'll have a looky there tomorrow.

I did check on Opie but they appear to be out of stock (and also a bit expeno, discount aside).

Order online and collect for best prices

Call the midlife! · July 31, 2019, 20:02

Quote from: househead on July 31, 2019, 18:59
Quote from: moredun on July 31, 2019, 18:37raidiator lower mounting rubbers?
Mine was well gone when I went to change my raidator $:-\$

Sounds like a job that might need doing and if not, might be worth doing anyway.

Where can I find these / what do I need to look for exactly?

The rubber bits from these?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-Mk3-Roadster-Radiator-Mount-Brackets-and-Rubbers-Pair/113792649099

Nope, those are the top mounts and fairly easy to get hold of, it's the ones that sit in the lower cross brace that tend to corrode into the bodywork and have a metal insert that also dissolves.

https://mr2-ben.co.uk/products/995

Joesson · July 31, 2019, 20:04

@1979scotte, yes Scotte you will need some Jubilee type clips as the existing OE clips will likely be corroded and will not give a for sure fixing if replaced.
@househead, check the size of the hose that the Jubilee type clips will be fitted to, I am pretty sure that your gas bbq had much smaller hose than the 2's radiator hose.

househead · July 31, 2019, 20:13

Quote from: Joesson on July 31, 2019, 20:04@1979scotte, yes Scotte you will need some Jubilee type clips as the existing OE clips will likely be corroded and will not give a for sure fixing if replaced.
@househead, check the size of the hose that the Jubilee type clips will be fitted to, I am pretty sure that your gas bbq had much smaller hose than the 2's radiator hose.

The gas bbq hose is 8mm ID and about 10/11mm OD. The clips I used can accommodate a good bit more (maybe 16mm at a guess). I remember this as they required a fair bit of screwing!

I'll dig them out shortly and get some bigger ones if needed. How big is the rad hose?

1979scotte · July 31, 2019, 20:18

Quote from: househead on July 31, 2019, 20:13
Quote from: Joesson on July 31, 2019, 20:04@1979scotte, yes Scotte you will need some Jubilee type clips as the existing OE clips will likely be corroded and will not give a for sure fixing if replaced.
@househead, check the size of the hose that the Jubilee type clips will be fitted to, I am pretty sure that your gas bbq had much smaller hose than the 2's radiator hose.

The gas bbq hose is 8mm ID and about 10/11mm OD. The clips I used can accommodate a good bit more (maybe 16mm at a guess). I remember this as they required a fair bit of screwing!

I'll dig them out shortly and get some bigger ones if needed. How big is the rad hose?

We need to ask Carolyn but at a guess 2"

Joesson · July 31, 2019, 20:25

Certainly way bigger than 16mm.
I would be very inclined to remove the front under tray and the frunk plastics and have a good look around.

ManInDandism · July 31, 2019, 20:49

youtube vid

Joesson · July 31, 2019, 21:13

@househead, does your 2 have aircon? If so no problem relative to above video. If not don't be too alarmed that you only have one cooling fan.
When I replaced my radiator I thought that my 2 was missing a cooling fan!

househead · July 31, 2019, 21:32

No air con here! Thanks for the heads up on that, saves me the cursing!

Call the midlife! · July 31, 2019, 21:49

Quote from: househead on July 31, 2019, 20:13
Quote from: Joesson on July 31, 2019, 20:04@1979scotte, yes Scotte you will need some Jubilee type clips as the existing OE clips will likely be corroded and will not give a for sure fixing if replaced.
@househead, check the size of the hose that the Jubilee type clips will be fitted to, I am pretty sure that your gas bbq had much smaller hose than the 2's radiator hose.

The gas bbq hose is 8mm ID and about 10/11mm OD. The clips I used can accommodate a good bit more (maybe 16mm at a guess). I remember this as they required a fair bit of screwing!

I'll dig them out shortly and get some bigger ones if needed. How big is the rad hose?

50mm springs to mind for the main pipes, I know the first lot I got were 50-80mm and wouldn't tighten up enough so I got 20-50mm and they were just right, so anything in the 40-50mm region depending on how they nip up.

1979scotte · July 31, 2019, 21:55

These could be good 40-60

https://www.toolstation.com/hose-clip/p69339?store=DH&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=CjwKCAjw-ITqBRB7EiwAZ1c5U_99kJvDeAcj8P3OGWt7N12zb0l24Y70PrjDrhagu_bfU3r-hU_VkxoCwSUQAvD_BwE

househead · July 31, 2019, 22:06

Will add those to my shopping list!

Bossworld · August 1, 2019, 08:06

6x2.5 for the o ring if you can

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=64576.0

househead · August 1, 2019, 08:30

Thanks @Bossworld

Got those on order too ... would like to avoid the issues you and others had. Also I'll have a good few spares if anyone needs 'em

StuC · August 1, 2019, 08:31

Quote from: Bossworld on August 1, 2019, 08:066x2.5 for the o ring if you can

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=64576.0

+1 on this.
I had a brand new rad on the last one, which included an o-ring... which was mullered.
I forgot to check it before install and guess what... it leaked so had to change it!

househead · August 2, 2019, 13:26

Some bits started arriving for the job and I also started removing bits at the front. Took out the frunk, plastics, alarm and rad fan.

Quick questions ...

a) Do I need to jack up the front to get the front nappy off? (My car is 30mm lowered).

b) Is there a nuclear option for draining remaining coolant? Most videos or stuff I've read relate to replacing existing coolant in a working rad. If I'm taking the thing off, could I just drain from the main pipe?

Still waiting on some bits but ideally would like to get the existing rad out and drained of coolant, then hopefully get the new rad in place while I wait for O rings and jubilee clips to complete the job before the refill/bleed which sounds like the donkey work bit

Carolyn · August 2, 2019, 13:39

I've posted a couple of pointers in your othrr thread...

In the spirit of sharing as widely as possible:

The nappy can stay put. You need to get her up on jack-stands to get at the two coolant drains in the pipework. They are located just about underneath the front bulkhead. Be careful removing the drain plugs. Soak in Plusgas and (if they are stubborn) put a bit of heat to them. Some folk have managed to shear these off!! Put some teflon tape on the threads when you put them back. Using these drains ensures you end up refreshing ALL the coolant. (which is a good thing to do.)

Best to do the O rings on the new rad while it's out of the car.

househead · August 2, 2019, 13:44

I'll get out there and get a-spraying with my plus gas and hold off on installing the rad in place until the O rings arrive!

Teflon tape I have somewhere but I suspect it might be less stressful to go and buy some new because somewhere == anywhere right now in my gaff!

househead · August 6, 2019, 19:08

So, job was done last weekend gone and car seems grand. I've topped up the coolant a small amount since taking it for a drive and it dropping, but I don't believe there's any leaks. Heater blows hot and car gets upto and stays at operating temp as expected. Cold start idle seems high (1.5-2k revs) but tbh I've never looked at cold idle before so expect this could be normal? Warm idle is normal, and if anything a little lower than before at 700-750ish.

We did however make one small bobo with the O rings. I'd ordered some 6mm x 2mm in addition to 6mm x 2.5mm. Having forgotten this, when the first pack arrived, I expected them to be the right ones. We swapped them onto the rad and size wise they looked identical to the ones they replaced. This morning some similar sized but a little fatter O rings dropped through the letterbox, and a penny dropped in my mind!

I'm guessing that for the rad bleed valve I can just unscrew and replace it? As for the drain valve on the rad at the bottom, is it reasonable to unscrew, plug temporarily with something (thinking bluetac), replace O ring and replace drain screw (after removing temporary plug)?

Bossworld · August 6, 2019, 21:00

Quote from: househead on August 6, 2019, 19:08So, job was done last weekend gone and car seems grand. I've topped up the coolant a small amount since taking it for a drive and it dropping, but I don't believe there's any leaks. Heater blows hot and car gets upto and stays at operating temp as expected. Cold start idle seems high (1.5-2k revs) but tbh I've never looked at cold idle before so expect this could be normal? Warm idle is normal, and if anything a little lower than before at 700-750ish.

We did however make one small bobo with the O rings. I'd ordered some 6mm x 2mm in addition to 6mm x 2.5mm. Having forgotten this, when the first pack arrived, I expected them to be the right ones. We swapped them onto the rad and size wise they looked identical to the ones they replaced. This morning some similar sized but a little fatter O rings dropped through the letterbox, and a penny dropped in my mind!

I'm guessing that for the rad bleed valve I can just unscrew and replace it? As for the drain valve on the rad at the bottom, is it reasonable to unscrew, plug temporarily with something (thinking bluetac), replace O ring and replace drain screw (after removing temporary plug)?

My car idles quite high on cold start (about 1600) but fades away to 800-850 once warm. You'll likely find that an ODB reader gives a more accurate read out than the gauge.

O-ring - you might find 2mm is fine - check to see if there's a weep over the next few days (hence why I moved up to 2.5).

Can't really comment on the switcheroo but I'm fairly sure I must have re-done the top one while it was full of coolant and don't remember losing masses.