For the past few days i have had coolant leaking from my '06 plate Fabia VRS, it drives no differently but is going through coolant like nobodies business (after about a 20 minute journey the coolant header tank is empty from being at "max" at the start of the trip). I've taken the following video and pictures to see if you guys can help me diagnose where the coolant is leaking from:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BnpVJk_Eb0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see it is dripping from the driver side, down a metal pipe to the left of the engine, there does not appear to be any coolant dripping from the engine itself. The radiator seems dry. Really appreciate any help, its typical this stuff always happens on expensive months :(

 

Oh also, it seems dry around the header tank itself but i can't be 100%, if anyone has any ideas at all about things i could check that would be brilliant...

Edited 5 October, 201411 yr by AhhhhDear

A favourite place is immediately below header tank, where there is a pipe that joins onto it.

If leak location is not obvious, suggest take to garage to place water system under pressure to try locate problem..

Good luck. 

It's usually quite easy to spot if you focus on hose connections as pink crystals dry around them

Sounds like it could be the pipes for the heater matrix, mine have just been replaced due to splitting

Thanks guys I'll look out for pink crystals, not seen any yet. Will try checking under coolant header tank....any idea where I should look to check heater matrix pipes as mentioned by r1chard? 

 

Many thanks all.

Thanks guys I'll look out for pink crystals, not seen any yet. Will try checking under coolant header tank....any idea where I should look to check heater matrix pipes as mentioned by r1chard?

Many thanks all.

Look down the back of the bulkhead in the centre

Can't see any crystals or sign of leak under coolant header tank or pipes going in to centre of bulkhead, picture below, anywhere else I can check?

The rubber seals on the piece the pipes go on to can break

Is that where I took the picture of above? If so I can't see any pink crystals round there which would mean it's not that right? Is there anywhere else I can check or best to get the pressure test done at this point?

Is that where I took the picture of above? If so I can't see any pink crystals round there which would mean it's not that right? Is there anywhere else I can check or best to get the pressure test done at this point?

I'd whack it on the pressure tester and check for damp bulkhead insulation and other leaks!

Possible water pump leak?

Garage reckoned it was water pump but i wasn't sure as the guy showed me coolant coming from back of engine but it seems that it's actually dripping from the left of the engine (looking at it from the front). Also looking at £320+vat for it so was hoping it would be something else! If you genuinely think that could be it going by my pictures then I may just go ahead and get them to do the work...

Garage reckoned it was water pump but i wasn't sure as the guy showed me coolant coming from back of engine but it seems that it's actually dripping from the left of the engine (looking at it from the front). Also looking at £320+vat for it so was hoping it would be something else! If you genuinely think that could be it going by my pictures then I may just go ahead and get them to do the work...

I'd put confidence in the fellow mechanic being right! That cost is a bout right as you've got to drop the engine mount off and then take off the timing and put a new one on if it's near the end! Well I like to do a new one with each waterpump

He was very rushed so wanted a second opinion! My thinking was If one of you guys mentioned water pump being a possibility it'd give me more confidence that even though the guy was rushed and the most profitable answer was water pump he was actually right!

He was very rushed so wanted a second opinion! My thinking was If one of you guys mentioned water pump being a possibility it'd give me more confidence that even though the guy was rushed and the most profitable answer was water pump he was actually right!

Could be dripping down the block to the rear corner quite easily

Fair enough. Bit of a shame I was hoping to see where it was leaking from.

One last quick question: I've taken off the bottom tray that covers the bottom of the engine and the top engine cover. ..can I leave those off for the 20mile journey to the garage or do I have to put them back on? I've got it booked in for 8am tomorrow

Fair enough. Bit of a shame I was hoping to see where it was leaking from.

One last quick question: I've taken off the bottom tray that covers the bottom of the engine and the top engine cover. ..can I leave those off for the 20mile journey to the garage or do I have to put them back on? I've got it booked in for 8am tomorrow

I took mine off totally so it's fine to leave off for a bit

You've got both top and bottom covers off?

You've got both top and bottom covers off?

I've got no engine fitted at the moment but I left the top cover on and that was all

Righto thanks, have got a bottle of g13 and 2 litres of water with me...hopefully it'll make it the 20 miles to the garage and hopefully the new water pump fixes it! Fingers crossed...

A quick look at pictures say water pump to me. Pull the top timing belt cover off and shin a torch down, see if it looks damp.

Your fine to drive with the engine cover off and the under tray off for aslong as you want.

It's definitely coming from the right area for it to be the pump.

Thanks chaps.

Garage reckoned it was water pump but i wasn't sure as the guy showed me coolant coming from back of engine but it seems that it's actually dripping from the left of the engine (looking at it from the front). Also looking at £320+vat for it so was hoping it would be something else! If you genuinely think that could be it going by my pictures then I may just go ahead and get them to do the work...

For £320 you could have Timing belt with tensioners, Alternator belt, Water-pump replaced/ done by a garage, as I did.

My timing belt was due to be changed, with this site recommending doing the water-pump at the same time, as the same engine stripping is involved by adding just minutes to swap water-pump out..