3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Coolant seal?

Old May 1, 2006 | 07:28 PM
  #1  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
Coolant seal?

I posted on this forum before about this problem but I never got a final answer

So the problem is, is that whenever I start the car, I can hear a lot of water on the passenger side. Sounds like a stream of water from behind the glove compartment to the back trunk. (That's where it sounds like it's coming from, but it could be somewhere else).

Now it wasn't that bad at first, Then it went away for a little bit, and now it's back and even worse. Whenever I rev the engine, while on an incline, I can hear the water moving around inside.

My first thought was A/C, but I don't think it's gonna be that loud.

My second thought, Coolant.
But I don't see ANY coolant being burned, I don't see any smoke, and no over heating problems. So if it is coolant, maybe it's leaking, but it's getting stuck somewhere?

My coolant light has come on a few times recently, It would stay on and then turn off after a minute or so of driving, after I refill it'll take a week, and it'll come on again


So anyone have this problem? think it's a coolant seal?

I'll probobly take it to Rick's tomorrow and ask some questions see if he can figure it out
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 07:45 PM
  #2  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 08:36 PM
  #3  
weetbix13's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: New Zealand
heater body?
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 08:39 PM
  #4  
CantGoStraight's Avatar
What's your point ?
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,573
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Fla.
What your hearing is air in your cooling system and the sound is comming from your heater core. You need to burp the coolant system and then see if there's something in the systems that's allowing the air to get in there. You could have a faulty cap / bad hose from the recovery tank / pin hole leake in a hose....could be anything allowing the engine to pull air back into the cooling system when it cools off. If you keep running it with air in the system you'll be overheating and rebuilding before you know it.

Last edited by CantGoStraight; May 1, 2006 at 08:49 PM.
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 08:48 PM
  #5  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
I see that sounds right.

Do you know of an easy way to find the hole that's getting air into the system?
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 08:51 PM
  #6  
CantGoStraight's Avatar
What's your point ?
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,573
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Fla.
Originally Posted by MusmoSpeed
I see that sounds right.

Do you know of an easy way to find the hole that's getting air into the system?

The first thing you need to do is get all the air out, then get a pressure tester to help you find the leak/detrmine if it's not holding pressure to begine with.
Reply
Old May 1, 2006 | 09:11 PM
  #7  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
I'll try burping the engine right now see how it goes.
Reply
Old May 5, 2006 | 05:10 PM
  #8  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
Did I burp the system correct? I still hear some air in there once in a while.

I opened the radiator, filled it with coolant. Started the car, and saw the coolant level drop, so I refilled the coolant, and then capped it. Did I do it right? or did I miss a step?


Any idea where the leak could be? I don't see any coolant dripping out anywhere, my heater core doesn't seem to be leaking either.
Reply
Old May 5, 2006 | 07:20 PM
  #9  
jd to rescue's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: scottsdale, az
You will need to burp the car over several days to get all the air out. One burp and fill will not do it.
Reply
Old May 5, 2006 | 07:37 PM
  #10  
MusmoSpeed's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton, CA
Originally Posted by jd to rescue
You will need to burp the car over several days to get all the air out. One burp and fill will not do it.
I C, well that's good because that's what I've been doing.
Reply
Old May 6, 2006 | 06:49 PM
  #11  
hsitko's Avatar
Archdandy
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 550
Likes: 3
From: Predominantly educated metropolitan area
You are probably burning it. If there was a leak you would have a puddle. My car does the same thing. It looses coolant so every time i drive it i top it off until i can afford to rebuild. There are no leaks and i was getting the same noise. On startup the car idles really high like 3k. then it gets all the coolant out and drops. White smoke a plenty. Then it stops smoking.
Reply
Old May 6, 2006 | 08:14 PM
  #12  
Montego's Avatar
Don't worry be happy...
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,901
Likes: 842
From: San Diego, CA
^^ If he was burning it then he would get white smoke.

Last edited by Montego; May 6, 2006 at 08:24 PM.
Reply
Old May 7, 2006 | 08:52 AM
  #13  
mecman's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 679
Likes: 24
From: Chicago, IL, USA
I have the same problem. It is definitely coolant running through the heater core. I am not burning coolant but I have the same issue with adding some every week. I have replaced my caps but still the same problem. I installed a fluidyne this winter to see if that helps. Next for me is the pressure test since my overflow bottle is always full.
Reply
Old May 7, 2006 | 03:51 PM
  #14  
luey02's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, Ca
hum...

does your coolant level drop as your open your cab? if so that's fine since your coolant is in vacuum, 16 lb/in (your spring rate) below atm. also check your overflow tank, if the coolant you put in is going over there, then coolant is not lost!

I blurp the system using a rubber glove tied around my engine oil funnel lip (washed) so it forms a seal with the filler neck. Then I start the car and fill it. It'll drop and bubbling while the cap is open to atmosphere. after operating temp say 180F, I cap it then it's in good running condition. do it twice and youre good.
Reply
Old May 8, 2006 | 01:38 AM
  #15  
BobfisH's Avatar
RX7 lover
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 3
From: UK
Im not saying you need a rebuild, but my car did the exact same thing when my coolant seal went. After the rebuild; no more bubbling sound.

good luck bro!
Reply
Old May 8, 2006 | 09:49 PM
  #16  
mecman's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 679
Likes: 24
From: Chicago, IL, USA
I did the pressure test and found the cap on the AST was leaking. When I put the pressure tester on the car it stayed steady. (althought I did not leave it on for more than 5 minutes). I bought a new cap and drove the car today. Everything was fine except when I was in bumper to bumper traffic. I watched my water temp guage (autometer) rise over 210 while my stock guage looked okay. Once I was moving the temp dropped down. When I got home I did not see coolant come out of the overflow tank but the buzzer went off again. So when it cooled down I added about 1/3 of a gallon of distilled water. I will drive it again tomorrow and see what happens. I sure hope it isn't a coolant seal, but I don't get the white smoke at start up or smell coolant in the exhaust.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
localized
New Member RX-7 Technical
3
Sep 16, 2015 12:18 AM
ZaqAtaq
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
Sep 5, 2015 08:57 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:34 AM.