madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Just when you think things could get any worse this time of year, well today i topped up my rad and went down the tesco and noticed when i put the heating on (not aircon) smoke started it come out the air vents, then the water temp started to go up and down, got home and smoke was pouring out the overflow pipe. I let the car cool down and topped up the rad again with water and coolant and left the car to run for a bit with the cap off and steam started pouring out the top of the rad again. Im not too good with these things so has anyone got any idea on things i can check or do (i checked the oil made sure that hadnt gone white) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 You mean, you carried on driving it even though there was smoke coming out of the air vents? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 No stopped as soon as i noticed the smoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Smoke or steam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broomie Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 was there tiny bubbles coming out of the top the rad when you ran it with the cap off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 steam sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Water pump not working maybe.. Hope it's easy bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 was there tiny bubbles coming out of the top the rad when you ran it with the cap off? No just steam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 No stopped as soon as i noticed the smoke So it started to do it just as you got home? i.e. hasn't been driven with a severe lack of water in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 No it was driven may 100yards, I drove it first thing this morning and it was fine it only happened after i topped up the rad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 If you have the time do some searching on here as its been gone over quite a few times and ive only been on here nearly a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannypunto Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 air lock? try bleed the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 If the steam was being created by the overflow pipe you could just have a dodgy rad cap. I'd change this first, only a few £ from Toyota. Top up the system with Toyota 4Life Red coolant before fitting the rad cap....doing your best to get out all the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 I found a pipe which had popped of this isnt my engine bay but you can see the pipe, whats this pipe for and would it have caused the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Think that's the vacuum pipe for boosting the powersteering....so it shouldn't have been related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 24, 2007 Author Share Posted December 24, 2007 umm ok will have another check tomorrow it felt like it pressurised the coolant though when i reconnected it and the car stopped spluttering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 If steam is coming out of the heater vents it would indicate that the heater matrix has failed and losing hot coolant. Any wetness in the footwells? Any sweet smell in the car when warmed up, from the antifreeze? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 The car kinds smelt like fish when the heating was on, going to try have a good look tomorrow, thanks everyone for the replies will keep the thread updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D8MOA Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 yep sounds like a heater matrix mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 If the heater matrix is the problem would the engine still over heat or would to just blow out cold air in the car? Are the any guides about fixing the matrix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 It would overheat, as the heater matrix uses the engine coolant, and a pressure loss, and volume drop will certainly cause over heating. If you feel very brave you could attempt a matrix change, but trust me, it's a daunting job, and will take a long time unless you have done a few before. There is a full pictorial guide by Jezz on here somewhere. A new matrix isn't cheap, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmunky Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 Just been looking up guides on the matrix, Im going to check all the pipes around the engine bay tomorrow and the water pump etc then if no luck I guess the heater matrix, I've had most the dash of a few times but not the whole thing so its doesnt look too bad and i've got a week to get it sorted Cheers everyone for the replys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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