I've had a long-running problem with coolant loss on my 07 Fabia. Main dealer said they couldn't find a leak, and as the loss was very gradual (only needing topping up every few months) I left it at that. Last July I thought the problem had been fixed when a different garage found that the radiator was slightly bent (following a shunt a couple of years earlier - it hadn't been picked up by the repair garage). So, new rad fitted, but sadly not the end of the coolant loss, which has now worsened - it's going from max to below min about every 200 miles.

A few weeks ago I noticed that the driver's footwell was sopping wet. At first I put this down to water ingress after driving through floods. However, I carefully dried it out...then noticed that it was back to sopping wet again after a couple of days.

So, putting both these things together, I'm wondering if the heater matrix is leaking into the footwell. But most posts I've found suggest that a leak like that would show up on the passenger side, though in some makes it seems to be on the driver's side.

Can anyone tell me which side a heater matrix leak would show up on a Fabia? Or any other suggestions? I know I need to check the oil cap for sign of head gasket failure, but haven't done so yet.

Matrix is central I think?

Mop up a bit with a white rag, if coolant it'll be pink, no?

I'll have a go at that- thanks. Although I think the pink is a bit diluted by now!

I'll have a go at that- thanks. Although I think the pink is a bit diluted by now!

 

Careful it doesn't freeze if coolant has been diluted