Ok, i just bought the car; but i have been messing with it for quite awhile...right after i get it smogged the heat gauge starts climbing on the drive home . I get it home and open the hood, and alas there is steam . I wait awhile and turn the car on again and the add coolant light comes on with that annoying *** buzzer. It seems that there is coolant on the ground, is it possible its leaking somewhere, or is it just overflowing? I bought coolant and added some, but i dont know if it is helping. Im too scared to drive it, i dont want to hurt my precious apex seals.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

 

Sounds like O-rings.

 

Top-off the coolant as per the factory service manual, taking care to remove as much air as possible. Run it at idle, and look for leaks. Common areas for leaks are at the water pump (front of the engine by the oil pan), the heater hose (passes by the oil filter and goes to the firewall), and the necks for the radiator and filler caps. Also, look at the upper radiator hose and see if it is pulsating when the engine gets up to temperature, which would indicate a bad thermostat.

You can also get your coolant system pressure-checked at your local radiator shop.

 

I wouldn't want to be driving it either! I would take off the panels under the car. And tighten all the lower rad hose. Look around for leaks from the rad and different spots. Worst case senario is O-rings, but it could be as easy as tightening a clamp. Just get under there and look around.

 

Ok, first of all what are O-rings, how serious are they, and how much money would i have to spend.

Secondly, I decided that i would try that bubble test thing, so i took off the radiator cap and turned on the car. No bubbles, but when i let it idle for longer, it started to overflow...very gradually. Once i turned the car off, it went up and down, splurting out bubbles every few seconds.
If anyone could enlighten me, i would be very appreciative
Thanks guys

 

Ok O-rings are serious. Thats the internal water seals. I would imagine it is either/or the water pump and radiator. Just take it to a local rotary shop and have the coolant system pressure tested. Easiest way to get it fixed right.

 

Did it bubble when the therostat opened or just bubble whenever. It will eventually start comming out when it reaches temp and the stat opens.

 

It did'nt bubble when the car was on, only after i turned it off. It started to overflow, i turned the car off, and then it bubbled 3 or 4 times; rather large splurts.

 

What year is the car?

BTW, congratulations on joining the rotary world. I'm sorry that you are having problems so early, but I guess it's better to get the bugs worked out from day one.

 

THat sounds normal, its still hot even after you turn it off. Just check around your hose's and radiator. It's probably something easy. At worst probably your rad in which case you can get repaired or replaced cheaply.
Good luck

 

Make sure you are using the right mixture of antifreeze and water. If you have too little antifreeze, your coolant can turn to steam and it wont move heat away from your engine properly anymore (i.e. it will overheat).

Try pulling your EGI fuse and cranking the motor over with the accelerator pressed to the floor for a few seconds. If it is blowing bubbles into the overflow tank when you stop, it is likely that your water seals in your engine have failed. Also try removing the radiator cap (while cold) and cranking it over, if it spits coolant out, it is likely your water seals have failed. I beleive that it is overheating because exhaust gas is being blown into your cooling system and forcing coolant out.

Same thing happened to my motor. Try dumping in some Bar's StopLeak in or try this treatment: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=90726

I have been able to drive my car for a few months now with a dieing motor, I just make sure I top up my radiator every time before I drive. Good Luck.