Hey guys! New here, I'm no car expert to say the least, I've been having issues with the warning light of the engine temperature I believe it is the same fault most of us have on the Skoda Fabia 1.4 2000 edition.

I've been looking at this thread:

http://www.briskoda....-sensor-how-to/

I'm thinking about purchasing the part from ebay and trying to fix it, however today I checked the coolant tank (I think that's the name of it):

One of them, and the level has dropped below the min. I've only had the car since 06/05/2012 and the level was fine then, is it common for it to drop slowly over time? I've done around 3-4000 miles since I've got it and its now got 96,000 on the clock.

Should this be something I take the car to a garage for or am I able to just top up the level to above min and be on my way?

Thanks for any advice or help!

Cheers

Jonathan

I don't know if it's the same problem but on my vrs the coolant kept dropping over 200 miles or so. It turned out be to the head gasket. Quite expensive fix unless your car is under a used car warranty.

That does not sound good :( Do you think taking it to a garage asap is best or just keep an eye on the level? I'm not sure if its normal for it to go down after 3-4000 miles in warm weather? I do normal daily 6-10 miles, then odd 500+ mile weekends. Not sure if my driving style has anything to do with it!

The car seems to be driving fine, no loss of power, no lack of acceleration etc, just the engine coolant light and 3 beeps on start up, and this one time of below min level.

Thanks for your reply.

Just keep a eye on it and keep looking under the oil cap for a mayo like cream. Other than that it might be worth taking it to a garage for a sniff test and or a compression test just to rule it out. You could be lucky and have a slow leak somewhere that you might be able to see because the coolant crystallises where the leak is.

If your still in doubt get it booked in somewhere. Hope this helps mate.

Danny.

First thing is keep it simple.

Check all your coolant hoses with the engine up to temperature and running and make sure they are all getting warm and that the radiator also feels warm and the fan kicks in- keep your fingers away from the fan as it could kick in even with engine/ignition off!.

Do any of the pipes feel very swollen/under a lot of pressure?

Do you get a flow of coolant back to the expansion tank? - make let the engine cool for a few minutes and take the cap off with the engine running- you should see a trickle of coolant flowing into the top of the tank.

After the car has been parked over night check under the oil filler cap. Any white mayo looking stuff?

Any smoke out the exhaust?

Phil

Cheers Danny.

I'm at work at the moment Philje123, I'll try tonight and have a look tonight see if I can answer your questions I've never noticed any mayo type stuff before.

Mayo under oil cap does not indicate head gasket gone just build up of condensation due to short journeys get a sniff test or pressure test to make sure or just keep an eye on it

Hey guys, I've had a look at the car this morning , I topped up the coolant tank and it hasn't dropped over night.

I've took some pictures here:

Answers to Philje123's questions:

Radiator gets warm as the engine warms up, the fan also kicks in and starts running.

None of the pipes seem swollen to me.

Not sure how long I need to leave the engine running to get a flow of coolant back into the tank, I took a video of the tank open with engine running here (engine was only running for 3-4 mins max then I had to leave for work):

http://www.youtube.c...bed/T6BSin4zeEw

Under oil cap:

No smoke out of the exhaust.

The flow back into the tank will start as soon as the engine is running. If none of the pipes are hard then you may just have a leak somewhere.

Should I be able to see a flow in the place I've made a video of?

I can't see it I'm on my crapple IFail. You should see it where you top up the coolant. When the engine is running you should see it flowing from the inside top.

Yes there should be coolant flowing/trickling in from the top pipe going into the tank.

When was the pump last replaced?

You need to have a really good look and check for leaks. You may not spot them straight away as the water will be hot and evaporate as it leaks out.

I recently had a leak from the metal pipes that go inside the car to the heaters. I couldn't find it as they were leaking straight onto the exhaust and so never saw any water under the car etc.

Phil

Thanks for the replys guys.

Not sure if the pump has ever been replaced to be honest, I guess i'll have to just keep an eye on the level and try get a good look around, there has never been any puddles or marks where I've parked.

If I buy a new expansion tank: http://www.gsfcarparts.com/174vg0180

Or is it a case of having a new water pump? http://www.gsfcarparts.com/170vg0620

I think the expansion tank would be the limit of what I could do :(.

The Skoda Fabia is a 2000, 1.4 MPI 1397ccm 68HP 50KW (Petrol) not sure if I needed to state that at the beginning.

If it is the pump any ideas how much a garage would change to replace it and maybe the expansion tank? The car has been valued at £500 by my insurance so need to find out if its worth while fixing :( and I'm skint at the moment!

I wouldn't jump the gun just yet as it may be as simple as the expansion cap leaking (is quite common).

If you did, however, need to replace the water pump it is pretty straight forward on these as it isn't driven by the cambelt and just by the auxiliary belt.

They are a pretty simple engine and you should be able to track the leak down eventually.

The engine btw is based on the old Felicia 1.3 lump but bored out to 1.4 and with updated fuel management etc but essentially the same engine.

Phil

Thanks for the reply Phil, Interesting about the Felicia, I think ill get under the car tonight see if I can track down a leak, is there something I should look for like maybe a damp patch or any common places they break?

Really have no clue about fixing cars as this is my first one ha.

Thanks for all of your guys help so far!

I've still got my old felicia more reliable than my vrs though. Done a water pump on that. Dead simple. Belt off, support engine with jack underneath, undo water pump! Piece of p*ss!

I've still got my old felicia more reliable than my vrs though. Done a water pump on that. Dead simple. Belt off, support engine with jack underneath, undo water pump! Piece of p*ss!

Oh yes.

I forgot about the engine needing supporting. Might sound scary but it really isn't.

Phil

Looking at that header tank I'd say that's got a bit of a head gasket leak.

Does the car have a temac gasket fitted? Check the right hand front of the head as you look at it, should be able to see a T or TEMAC stamped in red. This is a modified gasket, if it's not got it, then head gasket time. If it has it still could be.

Good news is the head gasket is neither an expensive of difficult job. Well within the means of DIY, this is an old tech engine, great to work on. Genuine parts are sub £100 and I did mine in a lunch hour.

Also check the rad fan switch, very common place to leak.