4 replies to this topic

[mcaville]

Model: Sprite
Year: 1994

I just got a call from my wife to say that after driving the 8 miles from our house to the station, the engine was hissing and there was steam coming from under the bonnet. Our mini has never experienced this before. It had a new Minispares uprated radiator and stat 2 years ago. It also had a new water pump at this time too.

As I'm not with the car I can't tell you any more than what I have, but has anyone got any suggestions as to what might be going wrong.

[sonikk4]

Model: Sprite
Year: 1994

I just got a call from my wife to say that after driving the 8 miles from our house to the station, the engine was hissing and there was steam coming from under the bonnet. Our mini has never experienced this before. It had a new Minispares uprated radiator and stat 2 years ago. It also had a new water pump at this time too.

As I'm not with the car I can't tell you any more than what I have, but has anyone got any suggestions as to what might be going wrong.

Could be as simple as a displaced hose. You really need to check it out before asking anymore questions as we would only be guessing. It could range from hoses to split rad to head gasket and so on so it could be anything at all.

[mcaville]

Model: Sprite
Year: 1994

I just got a call from my wife to say that after driving the 8 miles from our house to the station, the engine was hissing and there was steam coming from under the bonnet. Our mini has never experienced this before. It had a new Minispares uprated radiator and stat 2 years ago. It also had a new water pump at this time too.

As I'm not with the car I can't tell you any more than what I have, but has anyone got any suggestions as to what might be going wrong.

Could be as simple as a displaced hose. You really need to check it out before asking anymore questions as we would only be guessing. It could range from hoses to split rad to head gasket and so on so it could be anything at all.

I hear what your saying, but all i wanted was some diagnostic advice. Just some ideas of what i should be checking first.

[Dan]

Check that it's cooled first (obviously its had time but its good practise), then check the levels and see if its still holding water. Fill it back up and look for unpressurised leaks. I highly doubt it got hot enough to seize but just check you can turn the crank a little by hand in case and then start it. Watch the temperature gauge and keep feeling the top hose to see that the thermostat opens (as it gets to about normal the top hose will suddenly heat up but should be relatively cool until then). Once it's hot look for pressurised leaks and check the rad cap isn't leaking. Do all this with the heater valve open. If it took more than around 1 litre to fill back up you might have to consider bleeding the heater.

[mcaville]

Check that it's cooled first (obviously its had time but its good practise), then check the levels and see if its still holding water. Fill it back up and look for unpressurised leaks. I highly doubt it got hot enough to seize but just check you can turn the crank a little by hand in case and then start it. Watch the temperature gauge and keep feeling the top hose to see that the thermostat opens (as it gets to about normal the top hose will suddenly heat up but should be relatively cool until then). Once it's hot look for pressurised leaks and check the rad cap isn't leaking. Do all this with the heater valve open. If it took more than around 1 litre to fill back up you might have to consider bleeding the heater.

Thanks Dan, that's a lot more helpful