After a short 5 min drive this morning, when parked back up, I've noticed that there's coolant dripping from the undertray.

I've had a good look around the engine bay with a torch, and cant see or feel anything that's leaking.

I changed the temp sender and expansion tank a few weeks ago, but both of them are bone dry and the level has been bang on MAX until today. When I checked after noticing the leak, it was down to min.

The leak seems to have stopped after parking up, but I daren't take it for a run to get upto temp incase it all starts ****ing out from somewhere.

Anyone with ideas on what might be causing it?

how many miles has it got on car? ever had cambelt and water pump changed?

Car has done 82k, cambelt and everything was changed Jan last year at 70k.

I've just taken the car to fill up with Diesel, and it's now leaking again. After 20min of driving, the level has gone from Max, to about half way between.

Edited 19 June, 201016 yr by softscoop

Take a look at the radiator could be damaged/ or a hose is leaking

Dont drive the car if its getting to the max temp line you risk further engine damage head gasket etc..

If your good at DIY take the undertray off jack the car safely on axle stands get under and take a visual look to see if there is any obvious leaks..

Take a look at the radiator could be damaged/ or a hose is leaking

Dont drive the car if its getting to the max temp line you risk further engine damage head gasket etc..

If your good at DIY take the undertray off jack the car safely on axle stands get under and take a visual look to see if there is any obvious leaks..

I couldn't see or feel any leaking from the radiator hoses earlier on.

When I say the level, I mean the level of coolant. The temp has stayed bang on 90.

Hmm.. only problem is..lack of driveway and axle stands

We have the 8v and it suddenly decided to empty the contents of the coolant into the car, even without driving! Looks like it is one of the pipes leading into the heater matrix thro the bulkhead. The soundproofing on the bulkhead in the engine bay is also v damp. Having taken out as many bits as possible to see what's going on, it is off to the garage methinks!

We have the 8v and it suddenly decided to empty the contents of the coolant into the car, even without driving! Looks like it is one of the pipes leading into the heater matrix thro the bulkhead. The soundproofing on the bulkhead in the engine bay is also v damp. Having taken out as many bits as possible to see what's going on, it is off to the garage methinks!

I've just checked as much as the soundproofing on the bulkhead as I could get my hand in, and it's completly bone dry.

I've also gone over as much of the engine bay as I could either get my hand or a torch in, again, and I still can't see any sign of a leak.

Looks like this is a garage job too. And I was hoping on getting some 312mm brakes this month :(

Water pump??

Right well I've just checked again this morning, and since topping back upto max at about 6 last night, it was barely visible in the bottom of the bottle, with a lovely puddle underneath the car. The car hasn't moved or even been started since about 3 yesterday.

I've just started it back up, and the pump is definately working, as it's being returned in the top of the bottle, whether or not it's that that's leaking, I can't tell, as I can't even see the bloomin thing.

Right well I've just checked again this morning, and since topping back upto max at about 6 last night, it was barely visible in the bottom of the bottle, with a lovely puddle underneath the car. The car hasn't moved or even been started since about 3 yesterday.

I've just started it back up, and the pump is definately working, as it's being returned in the top of the bottle, whether or not it's that that's leaking, I can't tell, as I can't even see the bloomin thing.

Did you find the leak? Not a crack in the radiator was it?

yer gotta get the front raised so you can take the undertray off and start it up, the leak should be easy to find then.

Did you find the leak? Not a crack in the radiator was it?

Yeah. It was a tiny hole in the rad. Fixed with some k-seal as recommended by the garage.

If it goes again, then its a new rad, but that looks like a right job!

k-seal? wasnt an additive they introduced to the coolant was it>?

Yeah, it's what they recommended trying before going to the cost of replacing the radiator.

Good you found the leak, however pour in sealants don't last very long, go and get yer new rad soon. here's some.-----http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.9_2006/p/Car-Parts/Cooling-and-Heating/Cooling/Radiators

Hmm I have had to take apart an engine before that overheated and flush it all out due to these radweld type additives. Unfortunately, these products that 'find a hole and block it' also find ways of blocking key water channels on the engine, and can cause parts of the engine to not cool and overheat. If you can, get a new radiator, and get some rad flush and give it a good blasting before fitting the new radiator. Quick fixes such as this can lead to huge issues in the long run.

Well this is a garage that we've been using for years and years, and know that they are not ripping us off with some dodgy bodge job.

He did say that radweld is crap and clogs up everything, but has used K-Seal a fair few times when it's been a small hole, and hasn't had any come back yet.

Fair do. My experience was with a sealant of unknown origin! So cant comment on whats good and whats not. I can only make the assumption that any additive added to coolant is not clever enough to distinguish between whats a hole and whats a water channel! No offense intended by my previous post, im sure it was a quick fix, not a bodge job. PERSONALLY I would still be buying a new radiator when funds allow

Good luck

Fair do. My experience was with a sealant of unknown origin! So cant comment on whats good and whats not. I can only make the assumption that any additive added to coolant is not clever enough to distinguish between whats a hole and whats a water channel! No offense intended by my previous post, im sure it was a quick fix, not a bodge job. PERSONALLY I would still be buying a new radiator when funds allow

Good luck

Yup a new rad isn't too expensive in the grand scheme of things, it's just the pain in the arse job of changing the thing.

I'm going to leave it as it is for now, if it starts leaking again, then i'll definately change it.

I hope it works for you, but the constant expansion/contraction of thr rad tends to defeat sealant additives at some point.

you dont have to buy a new one you can always recon your old one might be cheaper.

I have a similar problem and am broke at the moment so taking the car into a garage is going to have to wait. Does the Kseal work short term and where in the engine do I put it when I buy some??!!

(Yes I am female and have VERY limited knowledge about under the bonnet. I can do oil, screen wash and top up coolant but thats it!!)

Any help would be good!

I have a similar problem and am broke at the moment so taking the car into a garage is going to have to wait. Does the Kseal work short term and where in the engine do I put it when I buy some??!!

(Yes I am female and have VERY limited knowledge about under the bonnet. I can do oil, screen wash and top up coolant but thats it!!)

Any help would be good!

It goes into the coolant. Pour it in, and take the car for a good run to get it up to temperature. That's it.

It goes into the coolant. Pour it in, and take the car for a good run to get it up to temperature. That's it.

Thanks for the advice. I'm off to buy some and see if it cures whats wrong - here's hoping it works!!