Please help a novice.

I own a 1995 wrx classic import.

Yesterday monring I was reversing out of the drive and seen a small patch of water on the floor form the right side of the engine bay.

Then as I reversed then came alittle trail of water up the drive, not alot but enough to see.

So thought may be Ok.

So started driving to work but got half way and stopped off at the shop,
let it running on time, came out and saw some steam coming from out of the right side of the bottom, then looked undernealth and then was a much biger patch of water from under the engin bay.

I then turned it off straight away and and let it cool down, (even though I had only been driving for no more than 5 mins!!!)

Looked in the rad cap and the water had bubbled in and was boiling up.

So I waited for 10 mins or so and started to drive back home.

Then half way home, same thing happened steam form right side of the bay, and same again.

I left cardboard under eingine bay and got bus to work.

Got home and there is no liquid under bay at all?

Does anybody please have an idea of what this could be?

Thnks

Jon

 

any1 please?

 

sounds like a burst hose somewhere, definatly dont let it overheat again.

i would let it idle and see if you can find where the water is coming from.first place to check is the top hose going to the radiator,

before doing anything refill the coolant.

 

Ok wil check , thanks for the advice

 

UPDATE:

I have topped up with coolant, started it, seem Ok but after running for 10 mins the top rad pipe is hot and the bottom right of rad pipe is cold, does this poss mean aa block or THERMOSTAT?

Also where is the THERMOSTAT and whats it look like lol

(total noivce here)

Thanks

 

i had this problem when i had the same car it could be an air lock in at the heater matrix is common problem water not cirrculating all the way round if y fill the tank and hand pump the top hose that goes into rad u will see water from bottle go down as it pumps round system if i was u i would do this then go to garage get all the air out by filling it totally with water

if u dont the matrix will burst which is what happened to me so whole dash has to come out if you boil it again you are risking the head gaskets


but that is my guess an air lock it is common on the cars normally on the outward side

hope this helps

 

Thanks the advice m8, I am just tyrign to work out what I have to do again, as there is a y in the sentence and I am being dumb and not sure what I have to do , please explain again


p.s - I put the heaters on and there still si hot air coming out?

 

yeah there will be hot air from the water in matrix i would get it checked it may be this it may not


but if u fill the tank at top then hand pump just squeeze it you will see the water go down as it goes round the engine then fill it and pump untill the water doesnt move then fill the small bottle on the right hand side next to head light fill that till water comes out that should get rid of all the air i would do this then that will let you drive it to c garage without it overheating and get them to pressure test it that will show any leaks or split pipes


hope that helps

 

I had a similar problem on my MY95 import, I presume your header tank is the black plastic and metal version? Mine leaked and sent steam everywhere I thought I'd blown the car up. Also had the same problem of narrowing down where the coolant was comng from.

These are known for being weak, I upgraded to the full metal version from a later model and added a complete silicone hose kit, or you could go all the way and fit a Forge tank.

That is if there is no other explaination for the steam? Could be just a cracked hose, they are 13 years old now.

Good Luck, Hope this helped.

 

hi mate
the radiator has plastic end caps which are known to be a problem. normally the right hand side cracks and sprays coolant around the front of the engine making it hard to locate the leak. might be worth checking, but check thoroughly because it is hard to see.
also check underneath the top radiator hose for signs of dozing or bulging, and as said check header tank
i think you,ll find its the radiator seen this before on a 97 car

 

agree radiator end tank or header tank

 

Thanks for the help, I am really really grafeful, as I havent a clue what to look for etc..

The header tank is the main tank with the radiator cap isnt it?

And the other tank is at the bottom right by the hose?

Hasnt any1 an image to explain, sorry but I just want to get this right and not muck my engine up

Thanks again

Jon

 

woudl this expalin why the pipe at bottom right of the rad isnt warm? i.e no water gettign to it?

 

I have just gone out and took a photo of engine bay and I found this pipe hanging out?

Surely it shouldnt be leading to no where?

Can some 1 please advise

Thanks

 

No that's just the overflow pipe.

header tank is the one with the cap on it.

the rad has plastic ends which split (i've recently had this happen)

 

Thanks for that, when you say plastic ends, do you mean where the pipe connects onto rad?

The thing is the rad looks quite good condition?

Do i check the bigger pipe at the bottom?

 

The rad may be in good nick but where the pipes go in it's plastic have a look and it's quite easy to see and they crack (not large cracks but still enough to **** you up when you're driving along and you see steam coming out as that happened to me )

 

Just seem some bubbes on the oil stick after running for 10 mins, and white smoke(smells of heavy fuel) form exhaust.

Is it the HG?

 

can any1 advise

 

bubbles may just be bubbles in the oil in the sump.. if it were water in the oil it would be like mayo..

exhaust is probably just condensation.. it is very easy to get paronoid when these things happen.. usually if HG goes on an impreza it pushes water out of the pipe you thought should go somewhere.. the overflow as compression gases are pushed into the water system.

If you have a crack in the system somewhere it won't be pressurized and will overheat etc..

find the hole

Simon

 

Very very helpfup advice Simon, thank you

 

But after reading properly, I did notice alot of water near the battery tray and around

 

if u get water coming from the overflow pipe in ur picture the head gasket is away

 

although if there is a leak and water system not under pressure it will boil and come out over flow... any signs of leak?

 

when you said water on the right hand side, did you mean when you look at the engine from the front, or on the right hand side as in drivers side

 

take this car to garage in morning you dont know enough to do anything urself

 

For sure Def, I am not driving it anywhere because I do not want to cause any more damage.

(re the water - on friday when this all started the dripping/leaking came from the header tank / rad section, but today a'slight bit of leaking) and water was around the reserve tank/battery side.

I am currently wawiting a reposnse for some1 to come and have a look or for a pick up.

But i just dont want any mechnaic working on it if you get me.

I am trying to look at the worst scenrio just in case.

(Which would be in the 1k plus rgion if hg, is that correct)

 

water pump ?
my old one did it , then split the end tank on the rad

 

Thanks for input, another avenue to look at.

Did you get the same kinda symtons dan?

 

Just like to say thank you to every1 for your advice,

I had a guy whos knows what hes looking for, and he foundthat the problem was the top rad hose, as some/most of you mentioned.

I am just happy I have foudn the solution.

I think the reason why I didnt know it was because I was just letting it idle and not pulling any throttle for pressure etc...

Thanks again

Jon