Car trouble

cookie001

:cool: Hi All,

Not sure if anyone will be able to help me on here…need a mechanic who knows what they are talking about!

I just brought a car from a used cars sales place, I have a year’s warranty, however I have found some things wrong with the car.

I have taken the car back because there was a clicking noise coming from the right wheel or steering column. The steering column is being replace.

The more worrying thing is that the container for the radiator is loosing water. I topped it up to the desired level and after a 15 minute drive the water was gone. I have checked the oil and that seems to be ok, no water in it…I have checked under the car and there is no water on the floor…so where is it going?

When I just spoke to them they referred to the steering column but when I asked about the water disappearing they would not answer me and kept on tlking about the steering column!?

I am a woman but am not stupid and know that this could potentially be something serious…Does anyone know what it could be?

chris175

Water loss could be a few things. From simple leak to heag gasket failure.

Be firm and ask the dealer to investigate for you, the car shouldn't use any water at all, never mind a full bottle in 15 mins (might I also say well done for spotting it dropping, may people don't bother checking anymore and then blame the car when it overheats and blows it's headgasket)

I'd say the fact the garage keep changing the subject means they already know about it and know it's going to cost them to put right. But I believe they have a duty of care for 6 months after you've bought it so make sure they fix it with no cost to you!!!

cookie001

Ah thank you!

Yeh i thought that it might be that and if i continue to drive it then it could blow the engine up couldn't it? 2 days after I brought the car I notice the service indicator came up, so I took a look under the bonnet and noticed the water was empty (which I thought was strange because they told me that it had just been serviced) that’s what made me check it again at the end of my journey!!

I think he thinks that because he has put one thing right I am just going to go away!! Well he can think again!! I had a feeling that it could be that!! I have already handed him a letter with regards to the fault with the car and quoted my legal rights of a full refund if things are not sorted within a reasonable time!
I shall also be asking him for a receipt listing the work that has been done!!

Thank once again for your advice!

Strider590

Water can only really go 3 places, into the engine, onto the floor or out of the exhaust.

Flyboy152

Strider590 wrote: »

Water can only really go 3 places, into the engine, onto the floor or out of the exhaust.

Four places....out of the expansion tube.

EdGasket

Five places.....if the radiator pressure cap is not tight, it could boil/evaporate off.

fivetide

By empty bottle i assume you do mean the expansion bottle. Have you actually had the radiator cap off? The water might well be where it should be but the radiator itself might be very low if it hasn't been checked properly.

5t.

rodenal

All of the above are possibilities. It certainly doesnt sound like head gasket failure if water is draining that quickly, the car drives fine and you have checked for mayo under the cap /oil in water / water in oil - sounds more like a hose having either come off altogether or with a whopping great hole in it. Insist that they sort it and tell you what the issue was.

anotherbaldrick

Fill the radiator reservoir up , start the engine and get a friend to rev the engine a bit. you take the radiator cap off and watch the reservoir. If it is a head gasket gone there will be turmoil in the reservoir.

Strider590

"Out onto the floor" was a general phrase for any leak external to the engine.

But no matter, no point picking at flies..... I think this leak will most likely turn out to be a small hole in the rad, as this would only leak when the engine is warm (thermostat open) and would evaporate off quite rapidly.

scittyscatty

can anyone help???? when i go round corners in my AYGO toyota. i have a rattling from what appears to be under my right front wheel area???? what could this be????