hey, i recently installed a pettit ast..the install went fine and i tightened all 3 hoses good but when i turned the car on, the add coolant light came on with a buzzer sound.. it lasted for about 2 min, then went away..ok, thats fine..but then, about a week has past (never drove the car since the install), and i opened the cap for the ast, then closed it right after..i started the car and the add coolant light came on again..

im thinking, maybe im not supposed to open that cap?

reason for me opening it cause i think i messed up on the install.. when i did the install, i loss a fair amount of coolant (approx 1 1/2 cups) so after i was done, i filled THE AST ( ) with about the same amount that was lost.. i never opened the filler cap at all during this whole process..i think thats the mistake i made..

can someone point me into the right direction. can i relieve this process? should i never open the ast cap?

thanks

 

Hmmm... Maybe you should just flush and redo with brand new coolant and see what happens or have you tryed it.

 

it just had a flush and fill a couple of months ago..

im thinking some air has to be purged out somehow but i dont know the technique or the process in doing it..

maybe if i start the car to warm, then shut it off, then open the filler cap or something of that nature..

thats what im trying to find out

thanks for the info though

 

Make sure none of the lines going to your new AST are kinked. If they are then your AST won't purge the air out and your overflow tank will fill up and your cooling system will be full of air.

 

Here you go
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=burping+rad

 

UPDATE! 4-25-04

ok, this morning, before i did anything, i opened the filler cap and found out that there was no coolant to be seen..i poured more coolant (doh!) into the filler, about 3 cups til the coolant rose to the top where i can see it..i closed the cap, and checked the overflow stick and it was full, about perfect measurement..

i started the car and no add coolant light, i was happy..

but then, about 20 min later, i was at work, i parked the car and after about 45 min later, i saw a stream of coolant about 2 inches wide for about 6 feet long (i parked on a slight incline) going from right under the radiator downwards..i was scared, i thought maybe i overfilled? i looked under the car and it was coming straight under where the rad is, the plastic catch pan was holding some more..

so what are your assumptions?

did a leak occured from the first time it had some loss of coolant? is that supposed to happen cause i overfilled? if so, where is it pouring out from?

im assuming, before the ast install, coolant level was normal, during the install, i lost about 1 1/2 cups, i filled the same amount in the ast. then add coolant light came on, i poured about 3 more cups into the filler cap and about the same amount leaked (somewhere) out..

im confused and worried..

please guys, help..

fyi, it NEVER leaked any coolant before my ast install, just now this is happening...

o and i checked the 3 hoses from the ast and none of them are kinked..

please help me, i dont want to do any costly repairs if i dont have to..

thanks

 

Hey Jersey,

Pull the belly pan and find out exactly where the leak is coming from.

Double and triple check your install. Replace and retighten all your hose clamps. Replace your AST cap (even though its new) and make sure you get the right one.

Check and possibly replace every hose to your AST. The install may have caused them to crack.

Burp your coolant system properly.

Do all of this and make sure that it is holding coolant BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT AGAIN.

And for gods sake man, in the future, open your filler cap and check it every time you add coolant.

Sincerely,

Jason C. Williams

 

when you say replace the ast cap, which one am i putting on?

the cap on now is rated for 16lbs..

o and thanks for the info, im gonna buy some ramps and go underneath to check..

 

If I remember correctly, it needs to be a 13psi cap.

Check all your hoses and clamps (including turbo coolant hoses) if you ran a 16psi cap for 45 minites. Things tend to rupture and explode at higher preasures.

 

burp it right....that is what I would say is standing out the most to me. It is not a one time fill and your set deal. when the coolant is as low as you said you should fill up the filler neck and watch for a minute...usualy some air bubbles will pop up and you will be able to put more water/coolant in again. Remeber that air will expand more than liquids, particularly air vs ethylene glycol, which is why an improperly burped system will puke out some coolant usualy.
I have made this mistake in the past and seen the same results, then burped it properly and have seen no dripping since.

Good luck
and get in touch with some of the local guys, Jersey is full of very knowledgable FD owners and they always seem to be glad to help out.

Bob

 

Is there any coolant on the floor? Check to see if all the hoses are ok and then check the radiator to see if any of the plastic pieces are not broken. If everything is ok, flush the whole system again.

 

bingo!

i def ran more than 45 min on that 16psi cap..

this truely sucks now, but its def coming from the radiator area, the hoses from the ast are fine but i have to check the other end where they disappear from sight when looking in the engine bay.. im gonna go check underneath after i get some ramps but right now, im gonna go buy a 13psi cap and not drive the car until i solve this..

you guys saved me, thanks

 

If you have a stock radiator, the higher psi cap might have been enough to cause your plastic end tanks to ruture.

You very well may be looking into buying a new radiator. If that is the case, flush your entire coolant system.

 

I had THE EXACT SAME problem when I did my PFS IC install and had to relocate the AST. I lost some coolant and then I improperly filled it back up.
You need to open the AST cap and remove the filler neck cap. Add distilled water + coolant in the filler neck until you see the liquid dripping out of the AST top. Then close the AST. And fill up at the filler neck. No problems since.

Do not open the AST cap. It will depressurise the system and the coolant in the AST will go to overflow tank. You need to repeat the procedure above.

That's my experience and it works.

 

^your procedure, am i doing this now? or after i find the leak and stop/replace anything that has to be replaced?

 

Check the coolant lines going to and from the turbos as well. 10 year old coolant lines next to a huge heat source have been known to rupture.

 

no, i doubt it was just coincidence that when i did the ast, the hoses went..

im with formerporscheguy about the hoses blown (maybe) BECAUSE of that 16psi cap on my ast..

thanks though

 

UPDATE!

i just found out that that cap i was currently running was a 13psi cap...i figured out what the problem may be.. after the install, i noticed the add coolant light came on but went away after i drove a bit (huge mistake), i assuming the excess air that wasnt purged bursted through one of the hoses..

im gonna buy a new radiator regardless if its the rad or not and replace the hoses and burp the system right this time..

my question to you guys before i get a rad is what rad will be best to get if i was going to get a fmic in the future? maybe one that wont need any cutting or fabricating of the bumper or whatever..

its either fluidyne of koyo

thanks