2002 Vauxhall Corsa Cooling system failure

Tiny
HON3YBEE87
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 VAUXHALL CORSA
  • 111,000 MILES
Hi there,
So last night I was driving on the motorway when I felt this sudden vibrating I looked down at the dash board and the temperature gage was in the red zone so I pulled over in a layby and checked the water tank when I opened the bonet a lot of steam was coming out from a tube near the head gasket, it was also completely empty of water so I filled it, a mile or so down the road the same thing happened again, since then I've been having to check the water everytime I go out, there was also this really grimey kind of oily substance in the water tank. It seems to me that there is a leak coming from somewhere could it be from the radiator? Or one of the pipes? Or worse a head gasket problem? I'm female and know absolutely nothing about cars, is this an expensive problem to fix? Or am I better of with a new car? If it is the radiator does this cost much to have repaired?
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 12:54 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
We should be asking YOU what's leaking. You're the one who is there and can look at it. The symptoms you described don't really sound like a leaking cylinder head gasket or radiator. Look at the hoses once the engine has cooled down. Add water to the radiator or reservoir, then listen and watch for where it runs out. My hope is you find a split rubber hose. If you do, and you can post a photo of the hose, and it's easily accessible, I can tell you the name of it and you may be able to replace it yourself.
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 AT 3:54 PM
Tiny
HON3YBEE87
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  • 3 POSTS
Hiya thanks for the reply. I ended up taking it to a garage and it was the water pump, it had several holes in so was leaking quite bad badly, they also found a few other problems, I need a new timing belt, a water pump and a rocket gasket, their also going to flush the radiator and put new coolant and oil in it, at the cost of  350 which I never expected to have to pay but I'm told I'm getting a really good deal for the problems I have, so I went ahead and left it there and picking it up Monday, hopefully it'll be alright for a while now.
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Sunday, August 4th, 2013 AT 2:52 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
I don't know which engine you have or how to convert pounds to dollars, but a leaking water pump is common and on a lot of engines they are driven by the timing belt. At the mileage you listed you're overdue for a new timing belt. Many engines today are "interference" engines meaning if the timing belt breaks any valves that are open will be hit and bent by the pistons as they coast to a stop. That turns an expensive maintenance repair into a real expensive engine repair.

Also, when the water pump is driven by the timing belt, it is customary to replace it when the belt is replaced to insure the quality of the repair. Any mechanic who has your best interest at heart will recommend the additional part to avoid exactly what happened to you.

For a water pump to leak it has also usually developed worn bearings. That allows the pulley to wobble, and again, it that is driven by the timing belt, a wobbling pulley will chew up the belt. Sounds to me like you found a good repair shop. If that was $350.00 you'd be getting a real good deal.
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Sunday, August 4th, 2013 AT 1:50 PM
Tiny
HON3YBEE87
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I'm so glad to hear that I found a decent mechanic. And  350 Sterling converted in to USD $702.25. Thank you for your answer.
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Sunday, August 4th, 2013 AT 2:40 PM

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