Help ! Coolant Dumped All Over

[jkspoff]

I have just gone out to the Gal this morning and the computer said 'STOP' coolant level, checked under the bonnet, and its dumped what looks like the entire contents of the coolant onto the engine tray. Coolant bottle bone dry and water all over bottom of engine, anyone any ideas before the AA arrives, as I have little confidence in them ! Maybe a few pointers wouldn't go a miss to them if they are struggling to diagnose. There is noise coming from what I believe to be the water pump after the engines switched off. ;) Help would be greatly appreciated. :angry2:

[Masked Marauder]

No overheat leading up to it, just the rapid coolant loss?

[jkspoff]

No over heating at all prior to coolant dump, which happened over night, not even whilst driving. AA have been out and it looks like its coming out from around the radiator area. We filled it with water and took it to local garage who are taking a look at it over the next few days. Why do these things always happen at weekends ! The coolant was almost empty again when we reached the garage, but temperature was showing perfect all the way, as just enough coolant in it to get there. Fingers crossed its just a pipe thats come loose, and hopefully it won't need a new radiator. Another warranty job though fortunately, I have only just claimed last month to have a new condensor fitted. I wonder if this has had anything to do with it ?

[Ogben Schmutzel]

...... I have only just claimed last month to have a new condensor fitted. I wonder if this has had anything to do with it ?

The condenser is right in front of the radiator!!

 

As I heard someone say once "The Circumstantial Evidence is Overwhelming"!!

 

Best of luck.

Oggy.

[jkspoff]

...... I have only just claimed last month to have a new condensor fitted. I wonder if this has had anything to do with it ?

The condenser is right in front of the radiator!!

 

As I heard someone say once "The Circumstantial Evidence is Overwhelming"!!

 

Best of luck.

Oggy.

 

My thoughts exactly, it seems a strange coincidence that the condensor was replaced and now the radiator is leaking ! Its gone back to the same garage, but how can I prove that it was them that damaged the radiator, as it lasted 3 weeks with no faults. If the radiator needed replacing or repairing do you think it would effect the A/C. I don't want to have to pay out for yet another re-gas !

[jkspoff]

Almost, but not quite had enough now of the unreliability of the Gal, its on its final warning ! ;)

[Ogben Schmutzel]

I know what you mean. I have had my Alhambra for about 15 months now and its been a money pit. Not due only to unreliability. Aux Heater and Aircon problems have cost well over a grand, but also tyres, cam belt, service etc. similar to you I reckon I have had about dozen regasses with this car. I am hoping that I am on top of it now, but the computer started to warn that next service is due in a 1,000 miles or so!!

 

Regarding proof - the truth is that you can't. The garages always have the upper hand unless you really have positive proof, but as I said this is only circumstantial. It is possible that rad could have gone anyway. Your only case I reckon is to argue your point, ask to see the radiator damage and see if they will accept responsibility or accept a doing the job parts cost or something.

 

Anway if you have warrantee does it matter?

 

Regards.

Oggy.

[jkspoff]

I know what you mean. I have had my Alhambra for about 15 months now and its been a money pit. Not due only to unreliability. Aux Heater and Aircon problems have cost well over a grand, but also tyres, cam belt, service etc. similar to you I reckon I have had about dozen regasses with this car. I am hoping that I am on top of it now, but the computer started to warn that next service is due in a 1,000 miles or so!!

 

Regarding proof - the truth is that you can't. The garages always have the upper hand unless you really have positive proof, but as I said this is only circumstantial. It is possible that rad could have gone anyway. Your only case I reckon is to argue your point, ask to see the radiator damage and see if they will accept responsibility or accept a doing the job parts cost or something.

 

Anway if you have warrantee does it matter?

 

Regards.

Oggy.

 

Got a warranty but it only covers 90% of part price, plus

[Ogben Schmutzel]

..... I wonder how long it'll take before they black list the Galaxy as a car they'll offer a warranty on !

 

A bloke I see at work occasionally was looking at an Alhambra and asked what I thought. I suggested that he makes sure he gets a good warrantee and ensure that it that covers Aux Heater and Air Con and to have a look on this forum. He later told me that they would not give him a warrantee. Haven't had chance to go into detail (like did he mean NO warrantee at all which seems a bit strange) but he decided not to buy it anyway. Bought a new Zafira instead for not a lot more than he was going to spend on the Alhambra!

 

By the way in my post above I meant to say about HALF a dozen regasses not a dozen!!!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

[jkspoff]

..... I wonder how long it'll take before they black list the Galaxy as a car they'll offer a warranty on !

 

A bloke I see at work occasionally was looking at an Alhambra and asked what I thought. I suggested that he makes sure he gets a good warrantee and ensure that it that covers Aux Heater and Air Con and to have a look on this forum. He later told me that they would not give him a warrantee. Haven't had chance to go into detail (like did he mean NO warrantee at all which seems a bit strange) but he decided not to buy it anyway. Bought a new Zafira instead for not a lot more than he was going to spend on the Alhambra!

 

By the way in my post above I meant to say about HALF a dozen regasses not a dozen!!!

 

Cheers.

Oggy.

 

Yes, I was wondering about the dozen regasses ! Even for a Sharan/Galaxy it seemed a bit excessive ! the warranty has certainly been worth every penny these last few years. As its had:

 

1. New A/C climate control unit

2. New A/C compressor

3. New drive shafts

4. New Condensor

5. New drop links

 

and now its in for possibly new radiator......... ;) So I'd hate to think how much that little lot would have cost me with labour as well.

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Don't feel too guilty, in fact don

[jkspoff]

Ok, the garage are now saying that it looks like a stone has come up and hit the radiator, or gone thorugh the fan and hit the radiator, causing damage to it, therefore large leak, does anyone have any idea how much it will cost for a new radiator fitting ? and whether or not you think I'll be able to claim on my car insurance as accident damage ?

[tim-spam]

So... it was a stone was it? Any damage to the grille as it passed through??

I bet it was the spanner monkey's work that did it - check the grille. If it's not damaged, you can take it that they know they're guilty and have just come up with what is probably one of the oldest excuses in their very large book of excuses.

A very large proportion of the problems experienced by people on this forum have more to do with the work carried out than with the car itself. The only real problems I've had with my car so far have been caused by something minor being fixed under warranty and something more major going wrong as a direct result of cackhandedness.

[jkspoff]

So... it was a stone was it? Any damage to the grille as it passed through??

I bet it was the spanner monkey's work that did it - check the grille. If it's not damaged, you can take it that they know they're guilty and have just come up with what is probably one of the oldest excuses in their very large book of excuses.

A very large proportion of the problems experienced by people on this forum have more to do with the work carried out than with the car itself. The only real problems I've had with my car so far have been caused by something minor being fixed under warranty and something more major going wrong as a direct result of cackhandedness.

 

My thoughts exactly, although I will shock them when I tell them an insurance assessor is coming out to check the damage, as I've just been in touch with them, and the damage is covered on my insurance policy with protected no claims ! So if they're covering up anything it may show up on the assessment.

[seatkid]

:D How exactly does a stone pass through a condensor without damaging it?

 

or did it bounce up , roll up the full length of the engine tray, and presumably using the gravitational pull of the moon, leap up in front of the engine block and do a Sylvester Stallone through the fan?

[strouf]

Well, the A/C condenser is between the grille and the radiator. It would be a bullet rather than a stone if it happened this way , and you would have a leaking condenser as well !!

[jkspoff]

The condensor was originally replaced because of a leak, I am now wondering if the radiator was damaged at the same time, but delayed leakage...........is it possible that the radiator can be replaced without removing the now perfectly working A/C condensor ? Does the radiator corrode over time, and if the radiator had been damaged at the time of the replacement condensor surely it wouldn't have lasted 3 weeks before leaking ? But it does seem a strange coincidence ! -_-

[Ogben Schmutzel]

... and the circumstantial evidence gets even more overwhelming!!!

 

Oggy.

[tim-spam]

Or perhaps they forgot to refit the intercooler........

[jkspoff]

Has anyone ever replaced a radiator on the mk2 Galaxy, if yes do you know if the condensor has to be removed as well ??

[strouf]

I would say it can be done, but I haven't done the job on a Gal , so I'm only guessing. But I doubt the garage will be wiling to make their work more complicated in order to save you some cash. At least not without charging you ...

[jkspoff]

Now I'm scared ! As original post Gal has had new condensor fitted and A/C working perfectly, garage is now replacing leaking radiator which is dangerously close to the new condensor and pipes, they phoned today to say they were struggling with the new radiator fitting, arhhhhhhhhhh, what if they then damage the A/C they fixed 2 weeks ago ! I feel like I'm going to be going around in circles. I will thoroughly check the Gal over before paying and make sure all is OK, including A/C and radiator. Why do I not have any confidence in garages ? :blink: They have now had the Gal since Saturday when it originally broke down.

[redneck01246]

am i wrong or is galaxy on ebay?

:blink:

[jkspoff]

am i wrong or is galaxy on ebay?

:)

 

My Galaxy ? No.

 

Now collected car and all seems fine...............fingers crossed, good old warranties, its well paid for itself, as I only paid

[redneck01246]

sorry looked similar

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-GALAXY-GHIA-TDI...1QQcmdZViewItem