OK ya know that coolant leak....

[CatchMe]

somebody tell me how to fix it on my own - I have not the time nor the patience to deal with a dealership at this point. is it just a matter of a tighter clamp, smaller hose??? what what what - I have to go buy more coolant today and its really starting to get me cranky!!! thanks for any who offer help.

 

[Turbo Matty P]

I would take it to the dealership...you want it to be noted on your records that your car is losing coolant quickly. This way if something should fail down the road you have it on record that it's an exsisting problem. Also, the money you spend to fix the problem could be better put to mods!

 

[Terpdx201]

Yeah! Why would you want to spend time, money, and effort on something the dealer will do for free?(uhm)

 

[SirJaime]

LOL ! ! ! GOT THAT RIGHT ! ! ! Turbo Matty !

 

[CatchMe]

because I have to leave on Friday for a 500 mile road trip and will not have time over holidays to be carless for four days which is the average turn around time I have had to deal with when working with a dealership. I might as well spend the money anyway......I can't seem to make up my mind as far as mods. Decisions! Decisions!

 

[Glowmunkey]

Yeah! Why would you want to spend time, money, and effort on something the dealer will do for free?(uhm)

Some of us aren't really big fans of having others touch our cars... I personally prefer, whenever possible, to do the work myself, because I know that no one else will put the same amount of time and effort into the job as I will.

Granted, I did have the flash done, but I truly had no way of accomplishing that on my own...

 

[nomahh]

I brought mine in twice for the coolant leak and I've noticed something interesting:

Once the coolant level gets slightly below the Full line, it appears to stop losing any fluid.

I'm wondering if what we consider to be a leak is actually a leak or just overflow/bad design on the reservoir.

Anyone else noticing this? I'm definitely not leaking any longer from the hoses/well-known clamp problems.

 

[Terpdx201]

Glowmunkey, I looked at your car on Cardomain earlier today. Looks great. But as for doing the work yourself, at least if the dealer does mess it up, they'll usually fix it. And like was posted before, its documented in your history.

 

[Turbo Matty P]

I understand about not wanting anyone else to touch your car,m but if you can't find and fix a coolant leak on your own...you aren't the best person to be working on your high performanc car!

 

[CatchMe]

I brought mine in twice for the coolant leak and I've noticed something interesting:

Once the coolant level gets slightly below the Full line, it appears to stop losing any fluid.

I'm wondering if what we consider to be a leak is actually a leak or just overflow/bad design on the reservoir.

Anyone else noticing this? I'm definitely not leaking any longer from the hoses/well-known clamp problems.

Mine is definitely a full blown leakage problem. I know where it is leaking from and I just hit below the low level line yesterday. I think I can manage to fix it but there is no sense going in blind if others have experience doing it themselves before me: i.e. part numbers, known issues that I may not be aware of, etc. etc. I am just sick of it - heatsoak is a huge issue for me and the low coolant levels I'm sure aren't helping. The dealerships always act like I am imposing on them and they hold my car for three days before they even start working on it....... frustrated that's all - thanks for input all.

 

[Heathen23]

Mine is definitely a full blown leakage problem. I know where it is leaking from and I just hit below the low level line yesterday. I think I can manage to fix it but there is no sense going in blind if others have experience doing it themselves before me: i.e. part numbers, known issues that I may not be aware of, etc. etc. I am just sick of it - heatsoak is a huge issue for me and the low coolant levels I'm sure aren't helping. The dealerships always act like I am imposing on them and they hold my car for three days before they even start working on it....... frustrated that's all - thanks for input all.

I certainly understand where you are coming from. I had to change dealerships for this very reason. I would bring the car in and they would stare at me like "why are you bothering us?" so I changed dealers. Now the problem I have is everytime something is fixed I later find an area where the work done was sub par. I had the coolant leak fixed and it came right back. They found an oil leak and replaced the turbo: and now the coolant leak is back again along with the upper IC pipe being installed improperly. It takes me about 45 minutes to make the trip to my dealer and usually 1 day for them to do the work. In the end I loose my car for about 2 days and have to drive back and forth and get rides from friends and family. It gets old and I would do all the work myself if I could but the reality is I paid for a warranty and don't want problems like these to develop into more serious issues.

 

[CatchMe]

I will probably break and take her in to a dealer......I just hope this time they realize that hell hath no fury like me when I feel like my chain is being pulled.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Some of us aren't really big fans of having others touch our cars... I personally prefer, whenever possible, to do the work myself, because I know that no one else will put the same amount of time and effort into the job as I will.

Granted, I did have the flash done, but I truly had no way of accomplishing that on my own...

I personally know that at least one tech. in the Albany area puts all the effort needed to fix these cars right. lol

 

[Glowmunkey]

I personally know that at least one tech. in the Albany area puts all the effort needed to fix these cars right. lol

I'm sure there is at LEAST one, but I prefer my own two hands. This way I know how everything was done, and I don't have any nasty surprises...

 

[mazda03speed]

I have already been into the dealership twice for a coolant leak. I believe its the coolant line that goes into the turbo. Their first attempt didn't work. I understand your frustration about letting others touch your car too - especially when they can't get the job done right the first time around

 

[muohio]

I also noticed a smell of leaking cooland today when I opened the hood after driving home. I'm not sure where the smell is coming from, but will have them check it out now that others are having problems. THANKS.

 

[girth]

Yup - check the front of the engine about midway down (between top and bottom of engine). That's where most and mine leak. I just went in for the 2nd time for the coolant leak last week -- finally got them to ditch 2 of those bad spring clamps for the band style clamps. So that should fix those 2 - now for the other 5 or 6.....

On top of that, those hoses are s***. Even the tech told me "I have no confidence in those hoses lasting beyond 30,000." There's too much heat from the turbo for those hoses to last. If you really want to do it yourself and do it right, replace the hoses with something better also.

 

[mazda03speed]

like a braided hose? what kind of hose would you recommend? In regards to the coolant smell - I had the same thing....look on top of the tranny case and i bet there's a small dried up puddle of coolant. The leak will show up when they do a pressure test.

 

[Prodigy926]

ive noticed mine but ive just ignored it for now. I have coolant all over the overflow resevor so im thinking mine is overflowing and then leaking out of the bottle. who knows.

 

[ThrillRide]

this may help you
http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?threadid=35345&highlight=coolant+leak