Discussion
Morning all, only just got into work cos Elsie wet herself. The man from the RAC was very good in the standing about chatting about sports cars stakes but feck all use in the getting under the car and finding out why all my coolant is p!ssing on to the driveway stakes.
After some badgering he conceded that the radiator could be knackered or I may have a loose hose. Hopefully the latter, but do you know how much I'm looking at for the former? Or of any cheap fixes?
I've just promised my lassie a holiday as her graduation pressie so this is fantastic timing!! :frown:
After some badgering he conceded that the radiator could be knackered or I may have a loose hose. Hopefully the latter, but do you know how much I'm looking at for the former? Or of any cheap fixes?
I've just promised my lassie a holiday as her graduation pressie so this is fantastic timing!! :frown:
Unlucky - I just had the very same problem recently on mine - I was convinced it was a holed rad but one of the pipes had come off due the hose not being completely under the clip. Open the 'bonnet' and put your hand dowon the passenger side of the rad and see if you can feel a hose waving around.
To get it fixed was about 5 hours labour which includes removing the front clam, fixing the hoses and clip back on, bleeding the system (nightmare apparently and then putting the front clam back on - all in all that was £224.
If it's the rad then you can add £150 - £200 quid to that for the rad but the labour should be about the same.
Note, I called the AA and they said the car should not be towed but needs to go on a flat bed so don't let anyone tow it.
To get it fixed was about 5 hours labour which includes removing the front clam, fixing the hoses and clip back on, bleeding the system (nightmare apparently and then putting the front clam back on - all in all that was £224.
If it's the rad then you can add £150 - £200 quid to that for the rad but the labour should be about the same.
Note, I called the AA and they said the car should not be towed but needs to go on a flat bed so don't let anyone tow it.
Hi Lotuslad,
Me too, had this when i first got my Elise. It's poss to sort it yourself if the hose has come off (hose to radiator on passenger side).
To replace the hose, remove the front passenger side wheel - then remove the plastic wheel arch liner. Access to the hose is now possible - dead easy if your bolts come out easily (dont forget to disconnect the fuse box from the top of the liner first).
I did manage to replace the hose on the side of the road without removing the wheel - it's very very very tight and you need to bend the liner back to get your arm in - i also had the help of a mate holding the jubilee clip steady whilst I attacked it with a small 8mm socket - it was a frustrating experience as its all done on feel.
I not long ago had my rad re-cored for £94 - I fitted it myself as I couldn't afford £100's and £100's to to have someone else do it for me - it's not very difficult really - removing the clam was the hardest bit as i'd never done it before (and ALL the bolts were seized - nightmare).
hope this helps
Me too, had this when i first got my Elise. It's poss to sort it yourself if the hose has come off (hose to radiator on passenger side).
To replace the hose, remove the front passenger side wheel - then remove the plastic wheel arch liner. Access to the hose is now possible - dead easy if your bolts come out easily (dont forget to disconnect the fuse box from the top of the liner first).
I did manage to replace the hose on the side of the road without removing the wheel - it's very very very tight and you need to bend the liner back to get your arm in - i also had the help of a mate holding the jubilee clip steady whilst I attacked it with a small 8mm socket - it was a frustrating experience as its all done on feel.
I not long ago had my rad re-cored for £94 - I fitted it myself as I couldn't afford £100's and £100's to to have someone else do it for me - it's not very difficult really - removing the clam was the hardest bit as i'd never done it before (and ALL the bolts were seized - nightmare).
hope this helps
Thanks for your input guys – she's all fixed and for the princely sum of £30!
I decided to have it looked at by a chap I know rather than trust the advice of Mr RAC. A loose hose was diagnosed within 10 seconds and fixed within 10 minutes. That orange jacketed buffoon was round for over an hour!
Methinks a complaint is in order – I called the RAC for more than just a nice chat!
Thanks again.
I decided to have it looked at by a chap I know rather than trust the advice of Mr RAC. A loose hose was diagnosed within 10 seconds and fixed within 10 minutes. That orange jacketed buffoon was round for over an hour!
Methinks a complaint is in order – I called the RAC for more than just a nice chat!
Thanks again.
The hose was right off and I couldn't get it back on however I tried - I couldn't get near it. I was under the impression that the bleed screw on the rad was all but inaccessible with out getting the clam off too.
I'd rather pay a little bit more and get it done by someone who knows what they're doing especially on the cooling system of a car that is prone to head gasket failure. I mean no disrespect to your friend - I'm sure he's done a spot on job for you
I'd rather pay a little bit more and get it done by someone who knows what they're doing especially on the cooling system of a car that is prone to head gasket failure. I mean no disrespect to your friend - I'm sure he's done a spot on job for you
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff