Smoke coming from right side of bonnet

ktcoil

Hi guys, noticed my car has a little heat/burning smell when I travel home from work each day which is about 9.4 mile, car seem fine but today I drove home to KFC and as I was in te drive through my car started to smoke a from the right side of bonnet, when I started moving it stopped. Wen I got home a left it a hit then opened the bonnet, noticed there was not water in the water tank which there was and I have noticed there is water stains on different parts of the engine etc so was going to leave a bit longer as still warm in the car, is it that I may just need a new cap on the water tank or could it be something else? Also do I just call a local garage and say what happens or could I just take to quick for or halfords?

It is a older car it's a ford ka 2003 year, I would possible think about scrapping as I been told in the not that a few things red doing but it means going to a car place and getting higher purchase or lain from bank to get a decent car.

Thanks for reading

straighttalker

Sounds like there is a coolant leak somewhere which is the best of a bad lot. At least it isn't head gasket failure. Could be a spilt pipe or damaged radiator/header tank. If fill it again and cautiously drive to a local garage for a diagnosis and keep an eye on the temperature whilst driving it.

Strider590

A de-pressurised cooling system is a very bad thing, the pressure keeps the coolant from boiling, if it boils you get air bubbles inside the engines water galleries, which leads to hotspots, which leads to head gasket failure.

If you suspect the coolant cap is not doing its job (maintaining the correct pressure), then change it asap. Look up the part number on eBay, shouldn't really set you back more than £10.

ktcoil

Well after putting no water in last night, checking this morning and still ok I managed to drive to work and back with no issues checked couple hours after getting Home and it's gone a little down but nothing mad, possibly may have gone down into the take more after driving? Was gonna check again tomo to see and if does go lower will call at a guarage but hoping it was just the cal come loose somehow, I ordered a new cap off eBay as wasn't much and thought of it's going to take a de days to come May has well order and if gets resolved least one few pounds spent and have it spare for future. Thinking of getting a new car soon as few other issues and with the age of the car if something goes wrong could be much more than the car is worth.

lee678

when you were " in te drive through " the temperature has risen and the cooling fan underbonnet has not kicked in, with ignition off and a cool engine see if you can spin the fan [ they seize up due to none/short usage] with your fingers. then check the fuse, the coolant bottle itself is also prone to splitting .

Jamiesmum

Had something similar on my old car (2002) with steam coming from bonnet when stationary for too long ie stuck in traffic with engine on. My fan wasn't working, got it priced up for a new one and in the end it turned out to be (I'm so sorry as I don't know the word) the wire thing inside the engine, that click in and out? Not a fuse but a small box. Something had snapped off the side so the fan hadn't been working. Cost £4 from ebay and £20 for a mate to fix it.

Worth a look, if you know what you're looking for. Someone should be able to tell you what I'm on about.

Iceweasel

Jamiesmum wrote: »

Had something similar on my old car (2002) with steam coming from bonnet when stationary for too long ie stuck in traffic with engine on. My fan wasn't working, got it priced up for a new one and in the end it turned out to be (I'm so sorry as I don't know the word) the wire thing inside the engine, that click in and out? Not a fuse but a small box. Something had snapped off the side so the fan hadn't been working. Cost £4 from ebay and £20 for a mate to fix it.

Worth a look, if you know what you're looking for. Someone should be able to tell you what I'm on about.

The wire thing that click in and out would be a relay switch.

Norman_Castle

ktcoil wrote: »

Hi guys, noticed my car has a little heat/burning smell when I travel home from work each day which is about 9.4 mile, car seem fine but today I drove home to KFC and as I was in te drive through my car started to smoke a from the right side of bonnet, when I started moving it stopped. Wen I got home a left it a hit then opened the bonnet,

Next time you see smoke or steam coming from under the bonnet its probably best to find out what the problem is before driving home.