17 replies to this topic

[PHB1969]

Swapped my drivers side radiator hose a few weeks back and fitted a Fez heater. Went for a drive early April and coolant light popped on, topped up but later saw the level drop again. Had a small problem with the heater connection (swapped the pipe from the passenger side as old one was a little brittle and was weaping - £30 for 6" of water pipe!!), so pipes disconnected and reconnected several times. (thanks for the support Tom - all my own fault!) Took the front floor pan off today and everything was dry, as was the top fixing. Ran the car up to temp and in doing so, heard some gurgling from the radiator - I have bled the system using the bleed nipple (on the driver's side) but does it sound like there is still some air in the system which is working its way through, hence coolant level drops intermittently. Note - I checked all the engine coolant pipes I could and can see the inner side of the rear undertray / diffuser and see no dripping etc so don't suspect any leaks from the back end. Went for a 35 mile drive and no noticeable drop in the level so hoping all is ok. Just interested in anyones thoughts on bleeding of the system etc. Thanks, Paul

[PHB1969]

This might be a dumb question, but are the coolant and the heater on different circuits? Are they both filled up from the header tank?

[techieboy]

All one system

[peteslag]

I struggled to get all the air out of mine. In the end I bled mine by parking the left side of the car on an embankment and then opened the bleed valves. The forward valve hissed for about 2 seconds so I think all the air is out now. 

[fezzasus]

One system, different run of pipes. The heater system can be bleed from the engine bay using the two valves by the boot.

[haggi961]

I find the coolant system another annoying thing with the vx. Best way I found was start with the 2 in the engine bay and bleed with the cap off and then the front one. Start the car up with cap off still and bleed again. Refit cap and get car upto temp and then try bleed all again. Seems the best way for me.

[PHB1969]

Where are the 2 bleed points for the coolant in the engine bay please - no problem with the one on the rad hose at the front (Elise hose) just don't know where the other 2 are.....anyone point me in the right direction please?

[CHILL Gone DUTCH]

If your a na just to the left of the exhaust manifold, As you stand at the back of car

[techieboy]

On the two black hoses at the left of this picture.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

that manifold!

[PHB1969]

that manifold!

Absolutely!

[techieboy]

Twas my near mythical TMS 4-1 manifold.

[PHB1969]

On the two black hoses at the left of this picture.

Thanks - are they the black "collars" on them to the far left of the picture?
And is there a recommended order for opening them or does it not matter?

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

yes thats them

 

i just opened them all up and waited when i did mine

 

i also massaged the pipe with my hands

also blew into the expansion bottle

[techieboy]

Yep, the knurled nut on top of each of the collars. Dunno, maybe the lower one first but can't imagine it makes much difference.

[PHB1969]

Super - thanks, can still hear some gurgling so guessing there's a bit of air still in there and the temp is a little higher than normal. Cheers

[haggi961]

Top one in the engine bay first then the front one near the radiator and then the bottom one in the engine bay.

[PHB1969]

Cheers Luke