mechanics help please

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batfink79

Original Poster:

2,695 posts

217 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Hi all,
Hope someone may be able to shed some light. just been out for an evening drive with the missus, giving it some beans, but not loads, as a reasonably new car.
anyway, Car in question is a Mk1 MX5 , driving great until I notice the temp gauge going on a slow,but definite climb! not far from house so pulled over to let it cool, and then drove the last little bit.
once I got home I let it cool down , then filled the radiator with water (expansion tank is empty also), and let it sit there idling, temp is fine, upon giving it some revs, the other half noticed water is pi**ing it out on the floor, from further back than the radiator, by the engine block..... however this eases as revs do....
Am I correct in thinking/hoping that its simply split a cooling pipe somewhere?

all advice greatfully received,

thanks in advance

finkers

R5GTTgaz

7,897 posts

227 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Water pump could be knackered, I'd get it looked at - seized pump = snapped cambelt.

Olf

11,974 posts

225 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all

andyquantum

13,204 posts

211 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Whatever it is, you need to get under there and find out whats causing it.

If on the original pipework, it could well be split, maybe a clip has given up, or as said could be the water pump. Til you get closer you're not going to know. But, running it with a leak that heavy isnt going to do it or your wallet any favours

batfink79

Original Poster:

2,695 posts

217 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
cheers for answers so far,
I'm not going to drive it any further, its still under warranty, so I'll give the chap I bought it from a ring tomorrow, I was hoping its a pipe! having said that mx-5 bits are apparently dirt cheap, so fingers crossed!!

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

216 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
If the leak appears to be engine speed related I would look at the pipes that run off of the water pump.

Most/some cars will have a smaller diameter ppe that runs off of the water pump and goes to the heater.

The water flow and hence the rate of leakage would therefore be rpm related.

but TBH if you can see water running out it can't be too hard to trace the source.

batfink79

Original Poster:

2,695 posts

217 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
was entirely the wrong time for it to go really, just as dusk was falling, and couldn't see under the car for buggery!

cheers again chaps, amazing how pistonheads can replace yellow pages/mechanics/AA etc

nice one...

Athlon

5,170 posts

213 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
The main problems are the water pump if it is from behind the radiator but still forward of the main engine compartment or if it looks like the water is coming from the back of the engine/windscreen area, the heater pipes. There is a cam sensor at the back of the engine that has a large 'O' ring seal that starts to leak after a while, the oil drips on the hose and causes it to fail.

Great little cars though huh! stick with it, they have few other faults but many virtues!


edit for the J.D. scpellink errors

Edited by Athlon on Friday 16th May 22:55

batfink79

Original Poster:

2,695 posts

217 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Athlon,

That sounds exactly the place its coming from, well, TBH, it was a little difficult to see , but from what I could see, it was the rear half of the gap between the radiator and main engine block....
bit of a bugger tho, I was loving driving the little thing, its like a little angry wasp/rollerskate and just goes exactly where you point it,
a little more tricky than an elise in the wet tho, to my surprise!

mazdaman

22 posts

202 months

Saturday 17th May 2008
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First of all what lump do you have in there. Is it the 1.8 BP by chance?

dickymint

25,841 posts

265 months

Saturday 17th May 2008
quotequote all
Water and hair-driers don't mix. Make sure you wear a hat to protect your perm.







































;)

batfink79

Original Poster:

2,695 posts

217 months

Saturday 17th May 2008
quotequote all
its the 1.6... which is not massively quick, but point to point its a surprisingly capable little car, balanced extremely well...

dickymint; I have invested in an acme perm protector!


preparation is everything!



;)