So I've had the coolant light fault for a while... mostly on damp starts.

But, I think my coolant may also be slowly, slowly getting out. How long should it take for the coolant to go from Max to Min? Because the 1st year of owner ship it didn't seem to move at all, but this last year, and more so recently it seems to be getting from max to min in about 3 months? Maybe even a little less.

How "sensitive" is the coolant level sensor to the "minimum" level? Does it go "beep" the split second it's half a mm below min?

I've been here before you see, with my Escort.. Got it of my mate who told me the handbrake on light was iffy, and sometimes stuck... It got stuck permanently eventually... or so I thought, read the book once I'd got one of eBay.. Turned out tht light was ALSO the low brake fluid warning..

guess what.. lol... it was about 1-2 inches below minimum.. EEK!

That eventually wrote off the car because a Kwikfit brake inspection came back with a list as long as ya leg and a bill larger than the cars worth (cue my 1st Fabia).. and the leak it's self was the two rear cylinders...

So, in short.. I'd like to be sure what's happening is normal.. The expansion tank IS bad as I'll get the warning once topped up.. but do I also have a leak?

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by Rob.

I had a leak on the 2 pipes where it went into the heater matrix. A metal plate that kept the 2 pipes together split on the weld. I found it by putting some radiator dye in and it shows up illuminous yellow. Maybe you need a splash

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by symonevans

Hmmmm.. It's going to Browns for a service+ next month.. I'll ask them to have a poke

Would you think the max to min movement does suggest a leak then? Albeit a little one atm?

Yes unfortunately.

Bum...

Most common slow leak is the expansion bottle cap. New bottle will cure the sensor problem as well. £14 for bottle and cap.

And don't forget the rad sensor also dribbles a bit as it has no seal. It's on the nearside off the rad. and looks like the bottom hose has a leak.