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Jul 22, 2021 10:38:31 GMT
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Can anyone help me identify what this is under my MK2 Fiesta 1.1L - yesterday there was a rather loud crunch from under the car followed by a rather large amount of fluid being dumped - It looks to me like this has a hole which I doubt is meant to be there. It is halfway down the passengers side of the car, I will trace the lines back later today to see where is leads to but just looking for some guidance at the moment... Is this the cause? What is it? Why would it dump fluid? What fluid would it have dumped?
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Last Edit: Jul 22, 2021 10:39:43 GMT by k11ngsley
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Jul 22, 2021 11:40:40 GMT
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Is it not the bottom of the gear lever housing? In which case, it's probably just some stray melted grease from the gearstick swivel(s)...
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Jul 22, 2021 11:49:19 GMT
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Honestly. I have no idea what it is. I’m wondering if a couple of things have happened all at once.
Fluid poured out and I mean poured.
Too quickly to locate where from and no clear signs either.
I saw this hole and wondered if it had anything to do with it.
Fluid seems like a mix of coolant/oil so maybe head gasket has died on me.
Checked coolant and yes this was very dark, slightly scaly and minor amounts of oil.
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Last Edit: Jul 22, 2021 12:07:16 GMT by k11ngsley
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Jul 22, 2021 12:10:19 GMT
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I think your photo is the gearlever housing, I don't think that contains any fluid or is connected to the engine fluids (but I could be wrong) Are any other fluids obviously low ? Engine oil level - looks about right? Any damage to the sump? Is oil warning light going out as normal when you start the car? Water level - check the level in the radiator as well as the expansion tank. A water leak will wash oil from the engine on it's way to the ground so you get coolant & oil mix. Gearbox oil? very distinctive smell & texture, difficult to imagine unless you hole the sump or the drain plug drops out. If you've lost a lot, it's come from somewhere - it's just a case of finding where. Good luck, keep us updated
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Jul 22, 2021 12:20:22 GMT
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Cheers nomadYep confirmed this is not the cause. Leads me to believe possibly the head gasket has suddenly gone. I will flush the coolant, give the oil a good check over and then start up and see what happens. What a shame!
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Jul 22, 2021 12:56:17 GMT
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Most of the fluid has dried up in the sun today leaving behind a dark staining on block paving.
I would take a guess that this is therefore not oil and most likely coolant/water.
At least I know where to start looking.
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jpr1977
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 656
Club RR Member Number: 18
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Jul 22, 2021 14:17:17 GMT
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Has one of the core plugs failed?
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Jul 22, 2021 21:37:48 GMT
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Not a clue where it has failed yet but pretty certain it was from the cooling system now.
I have removed all the hoses and radiator.
Flushed these till running clear and they quite obviously were in a state.
Will reassemble and cycle through, re-flush and see what happens.
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Jul 22, 2021 21:58:58 GMT
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Out of interest. Where would I locate the core plugs to check?
I might as well inspect everything while it’s all out already.
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jpr1977
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 656
Club RR Member Number: 18
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I don't know that engine but usually the front and back of the engine block itself.
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Thank you. I’m researching it, worth a check!
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 983
Club RR Member Number: 13
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If you're sure it's from the cooling, might be worth checking the thermostat to see if it's opening correctly? If it's not opening the system can over pressurise when it overheats and make stuff pop off.
Same goes for the expansion or radiator cap.
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I don't know that engine but usually the front and back of the engine block itself. I also don't know that engine. On mine, there is at least one core plug handily located on the back of the block, behind the flywheel.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Jul 23, 2021 11:13:56 GMT
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Fill it up again and see where it leaks from.
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Jul 24, 2021 18:43:21 GMT
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So after investigation and checking video footage I now believe the crunch and fluid dump were unrelated. Just a huge coincidence they happened at the same time. The crunch looks to have been the exhaust catching the driveway, just bad luck with the angle I came on at.
Today I have cleared out all the hoses until running clear and smooth.
All reassembled and run for 15 mins to get to operating temperature.
I am now thinking that this is an overheating problem as suggested.
Heater working so I assume this confirms the thermostat is working okay.
Fan did not kick in, temperature rose to about 2/3 before I switched it off as I thought fan should have started working by this point.
Next test is to take the fan out and see if I can get it to run.
Fuses checked already and looked fine.
I did notice that there is a pinhole fracture in the part below. Can anyone tell me what this is so I can replace.
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Jul 24, 2021 18:44:33 GMT
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it’s part of the cooling system and is bolted onto the front (side facing out towards the headlights) of the engine.
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Jul 24, 2021 18:58:45 GMT
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Jul 24, 2021 20:29:26 GMT
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Fan has now been checked by connecting to the battery and this does operate.
So what is stopping this from kicking in and what is my next test.
How far do I dare let the temp gauge get to check if the fan will come on automatically.
Would a pinhole in the coolant pipe pictured stop the fan kicking in?
What’s my next test?
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 983
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Jul 24, 2021 20:44:11 GMT
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Find the sensor for the fan and ground it. Does the fan operate? If so, the wiring is good. If not, see below.
Find the sensor and remove, set a multimeter to continuity and connect it to the sensor, stick it in a saucepan of water with a thermometer, turn it and listen for the beep, then think of the fun you could be having on supermarket sweep.
Take a note of the temp it beeps at. If it's above 85 (ish) degrees it's bad. If it doesn't beep then the sensor is slso bad.
You may also be over-cautious with allowing the temp to rise. Gauges are simply gauges and two different ones can read differently. The engine may not be as hot as you think. Again, a thermometer will tell you.
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Last Edit: Jul 24, 2021 20:47:11 GMT by ferny
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Jul 24, 2021 20:52:57 GMT
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The pin hole will allow the coolant to drop and eventually it will overheat, did you notice the level dropping?
If it's a 2 pin fan switch bridge the 2 pins in the loom connector and with the ignition on the fan should work. If its one pin earth the pin in the loom for the same effect.
It's been a long time but I think the switch may be in the thermostat housing.
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