coolant reservoir levels

kanujunkie · July 4, 2005, 20:06

i've recently had my colant levels all over the place, one minute they're up and the next down. To the extremes of almost overflowing bottle to the bottle being empty and all in the same trip!
My thoughts were air trapped in the system but its been in the garage today and they cant find anything wrong with it

any idea's? i'm fresh out

Tem · July 4, 2005, 20:35

I'd start by bleeding the whole system...

Anonymous · July 5, 2005, 08:37

Quote from: "kanujunkie"i've recently had my colant levels all over the place, one minute they're up and the next down. To the extremes of almost overflowing bottle to the bottle being empty and all in the same trip!
My thoughts were air trapped in the system but its been in the garage today and they cant find anything wrong with it

any idea's? i'm fresh out

Big changes in the weather at the moment (air pressure cos of the storms, temperature all over the place.....etc......) seem to have a fairly significant effect on my 2. Could be something to do with that.......

mrsmr2 · July 5, 2005, 09:11

Seems about normal.

Jason

kanujunkie · July 5, 2005, 09:23

Quote from: "John Woodward"
Quote from: "kanujunkie"i've recently had my colant levels all over the place, one minute they're up and the next down. To the extremes of almost overflowing bottle to the bottle being empty and all in the same trip!
My thoughts were air trapped in the system but its been in the garage today and they cant find anything wrong with it

any idea's? i'm fresh out

Big changes in the weather at the moment (air pressure cos of the storms, temperature all over the place.....etc......) seem to have a fairly significant effect on my 2. Could be something to do with that.......

nice theory, but this happens in the space of 5-10mins, Mr.T have said they would rather not bleed the whole system at the mo as this could generate its own set of problems, we'll see. She's back in the garage next week for a full set of brake discs so i may get them to do it anyway

Anonymous · July 5, 2005, 09:58

Quote from: "kanujunkie"
Quote from: "John Woodward"
Quote from: "kanujunkie"i've recently had my colant levels all over the place, one minute they're up and the next down. To the extremes of almost overflowing bottle to the bottle being empty and all in the same trip!
My thoughts were air trapped in the system but its been in the garage today and they cant find anything wrong with it

any idea's? i'm fresh out

Big changes in the weather at the moment (air pressure cos of the storms, temperature all over the place.....etc......) seem to have a fairly significant effect on my 2. Could be something to do with that.......

nice theory, but this happens in the space of 5-10mins, Mr.T have said they would rather not bleed the whole system at the mo as this could generate its own set of problems, we'll see. She's back in the garage next week for a full set of brake discs so i may get them to do it anyway

Ahhh...right oh. Didn't realise that. Sorry. Just going on personal experience cos mine does the same, but over a few days.

Bleeding the system can't be that hard though. I have done it on a Mk1 and a Mk2, so a Mk3 can't be that hard. All you need is a good set of lungs (to flush things out) and the right tubing to make sure the levels are correct. I reckon MrT are pulling your leg on "causing more problems". Its not really that big a deal........

I would push them Kanu if I were you. The longer you leave it and if there IS a problem, then THAT is more likely to cause problems due to "hot spotting" around the cooling system. Last thing you want is an air lock in the block.......nasty........

Tem · July 5, 2005, 10:40

I bled the system myself, it really is quite simple. Though I'm sure it will seem hard for anyone who's only familiar with normal front engined cars.

Just remove the plastic cover around the front storage bin. You'll see two clear hoses, take them and put one on the bled point on upper right corner of the radiator and the other to the bled point on the heater (on the wall). Hang the other end of both pipes up, like behind the windshield washer lines on the hood.

Open both bled points and watch the air bleed out s8)

s8) Add more coolant if necessary. It really is that easy and I can't imagine it causing any problems, unless your Toyota mechanic can't do his job s;)

s;)

Edit: Here's the same with pics:
m http://spydermagazine.com/2002/Nov/coolant/coolant.htm m

kanujunkie · July 5, 2005, 10:46

cheers Tem,

i'll give that a go, nice of Mr.T to provide the tools as well s:D

s:D

Anonymous · July 5, 2005, 11:45

Heh heh.....wot Tem said. Told you it would be easy!!! s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Actually VERY similar to the Mk1 I did a while ago.......

Anonymous · July 7, 2005, 08:21

I've had this experience too recently. I bought some coolant to top it up and just been keeping my eye on it. There was a slight air lock because when i took the cap off, the level went from low to high!!

Cheers,

Viggs

kanujunkie · July 7, 2005, 22:13

Quote from: "Viggs"I've had this experience too recently. I bought some coolant to top it up and just been keeping my eye on it. There was a slight air lock because when i took the cap off, the level went from low to high!!

Cheers,

Viggs

this is normal though Viggs, the resovoir is pressureised and effectively forces the fluid out of the bottle into the system. What ive had is that sometimes the system level is up and down with the top off the bottle. I have now tried Tems bleeding method and got a small amount of air out of the system and it seems to have calmed down, fingers crossed s:? :? s:?