Coolant Loss

[Marc81]

Hi Guys,

I have a problem with losing coolant on my VRS. When I took it for a service in Sept i mentioned it and they replaced the reservoir cap as they thought that was the issue - but recently it's got gradually worse. I have read that there are common issues with cracks around the radiator - if it is this does anyone know how much I can expect to pay to fix it?? I've just booked it in with my local dealer to look at.

Cheers

Marc

[CmB]

Hi mate,

Going through the exact same issue at the moment. About 20 minutes ago i received a phone call from the garage saying that the head gasket had gone. The head is currently being tested just to make sure there is no issue with that so hopefully my issue is now resolved.

You could just have a leak or it could be a build up of pressure within the system which is forcing coolant out (which is what i had). I am expecting to pay about £800 so its not cheap but is better than the £2000 for a new head.

[Jonny5ive]

Had the same problem with mine. Thought it was the head gasket and turned out to be the radiator. All in with some other bits done @ UNIT18 for about £800.

[Huxley vRS]

£800 for a rad?

What other bits were they a new turbo? lol

[Sonner]

I paid £260 for the head gasket change on my PUG 106, i know it's a slightly simpler, but the 1.9 pd is only an 8v anyway.

£800 is alot,

[RADIOTWO]

Hi Guys,

I have a problem with losing coolant on my VRS. When I took it for a service in Sept i mentioned it and they replaced the reservoir cap as they thought that was the issue - but recently it's got gradually worse. I have read that there are common issues with cracks around the radiator - if it is this does anyone know how much I can expect to pay to fix it?? I've just booked it in with my local dealer to look at.

Cheers

Marc

Hi Marc

Get them to thoroughly check the radiator, as that was our fault 18 months ago, mainly lost coolent when doing motorway speeds, but

not too bad around town, all checks done reservoir cap, and no leaks spotted, but garage found a hairline crack in bottom of rad

Radiotwo

[drcarlos]

I lost enough coolant over a tank of fuel to bring on the warning light, found coolant residue on the undershield so I took it off at the weekend and there was a bit of coolant on the bottom of the rad (left hand corner). New rad ordered from ebay for £39 was delivered yesterday. Will be tackling replacement at the weekend. Worst thing about the Fabia is the sheer amount of disassembly of the front of the car required to remove it, the replacement is easy (I have either changed or removed and back flushed rads on my old Ranger, Accord-R, Nissan Sunny and Metro GTi) to worst thing is usually getting the cooling system bled correctly, which just takes time and patience.

My advice would be to get under the front (after a run) and look for coolant dripping from the front left hand corner (it should be easy to spot and slightly sticky when rubbed between fingers due to the Antifreeze type and concentration). If there is coolant there removed the 10 torx bolts holding on the undershield and check for the leak on the bottom corner of the rad. Then you can either pay someone to replace it or have a go yourself, it will cost £40 for the rad and £10 for coolant, where as it could cost £200-£300 due to the strip down of the front end if you pay a garage. I'm going to do mine this weekend.

Carl.

[Marc81]

£2-300 I can just about cope with, if it's way more I may be screwed... but I don't want to just keep topping it up as the last thing I want is it to overheat and the head go (paying for a wedding at the mo hence major skint!).

Thanks for all your replies.

Marc

[Jonny5ive]

£800 for a rad?

What other bits were they a new turbo? lol

front & rear discs & pads, service, console frame and bushes & fitting of OMP lower strut brace.

[Marc81]

Hello again guys,

I thought id bring this thread back to vent my frustration! I took the car back to the dealers and they replaced the coolant reservoir saying that was the problem (i also had to fork out for a new turbo seal, intercooler seal, and drive shaft gaitor or something which obviously must have split since my mot!). They said they had pressure tested it and it was fine (including checking the head with a block test). So, 3 days later i check the coolant and its looking a bit low, but i wasn't sure how far up they'd filled it so i topped it up... Next day my coolant light comes on - its back to below minimum!!! I've taken it back to the dealers today, and at first they said they had checked it and it hadn't lost a drop all day while they've had it pressurized... So i stressed again how much it had been losing, and they said they would do another block test and check everywhere underneath it. I ring back and they are now trying to say that the block test has changed colour ever so slightly although hadn't gone yellow.. so it must be the head gasket starting to go. Now, i don't know much about engines, but for the coolant to go from full to below minimum on a single 70mile journey i think it would be obvious if it was the head or not?? Am i being fobbed off, i really don't wanna fork out for the head gasket if its not that as i have no money ... What do you guys reckon???

Cheers

marc

Edited 3 January, 2012 by Marc81

[Tech1e]

If its gone from a coolant way into the exhaust which I've had before its murder to actually fine as the coolant burns off before you can see anything.

I hope they are using the right fluid for the block test, few modern kits work on both but seen someone diagnose a diesel as 'ok' using a petrol fluid.

[Marc81]

Thanks Tech1e. I took it to an independent VAG specialist today (JVW in haydock) for a second opinion, but they confirmed what i didn't want to hear - head gasket on its way out :-(

So - how much should i be paying? Skoda quoted £661, JVW £570.. Is this good price as i have no idea??

Thanks

Marc

Edited 12 January, 2012 by Marc81

[Brads]

Try Unit18 I know they have done a few head-gaskets on Fabia VRS's

Adam

[Marc81]

I would mate as i know they're highly regarded on the forum but they're too far from me.

Anyone had dealings with awesome gti for head gaskets??

[Dogsbody_vRS]

I have the same problem since I bought the car two years ago but in previous year it got worse. If I went flat out on a highway I lost all the coolatn. But the car did not over heat and noticed that the back side of the car was coverd in coolant fluid and when the car cooled down the reservoir regain some coolant back. The local Skoda garage changed first only the coolant reservoir and then only the cap but the combination did not match the cap was very lose it seams that the best solution for changing the reservoir is to buy it with cap. This did not solve the problem and they also change me the hose which goes form the coolant reservoir. The problem did not go away. So the only solutin was to take the head of the engine and it was cranked on all four valves. So I made the replacement changed the head and from that time on no more problems with mystirious coolant los and I made aprox 25.000km.

[RedBlueGreen]

I had the same problem on my ASZ PD 130 engine...coolant would puke itself from the resovoir bottle after running the engine hard on the motorway. Turned out to be a slow head gasket failure where the piston combustion was leaking into the coolant system, pressurising it and thus ending up forcing the pressure build up to vent from the coolant resovoir bottle.

£600 later I am still running the engine back in after major surgery. Turned out my cam bearings were also worn out. As part of the HGF fix I got the head reconditioned with nitrided lifters and new cam bearings. From what I have found out it doesn't seem to be too uncommon a problem with the ASZ. All the best everyone I hope your engine won't suffer what mine did.

[The JudGe]

Hi guys, PLEASE check your radiator properly yourselfs. Mine loses abit of water and a local garage, was trying to ease me of 645 quid for head gasket. Anyways took it to my skoda dealer for service and they check the rad, and found a small leak! I was fuming so rung the local garage back up, and surprising they put the phone down on me as they didnt know what to say lol. If does cost you any money just time to check yourself