Just recently had to replace a rear brake caliper due to seizure of the handbrake mechanism, so wallet was a bit, (no a lot!!) light.

Yesterday, started car and drove off only to get a Red warning light, and the message "engine coolant low". Bit of a shock this as I have never had any cooling system faults, so quickly stopped the car and checked the coolant level. It was down but not by much so went back home and topped it up with a small amount of water, (200ml). I had no coolant in the garage and have never needed it. Anyways, I also had a look under the bonnet and saw the coolant orange colour on the front of the water pump. There was no obvious dripping of coolant so I did my domestic duties and phoned my local shop who advised me to bring the car in the following day. Later on, when it was dark I had a look around the engine compartment with a torch. Darkness is very useful when looking for small coolant leaks because in daylight, the torch is not strong enough for the human eye to pick up the reflections off any coolant leaks, but at night it gleams nicely in the glare of the torch. I found that there was a leak where the expansion tank vent hose connected to a plastic moulding where several hoses come together.

So today, took it into the independent shop that does my maintenance. Coolant was again low by about 200ml, so topped up again. When I got there the mechanic said, "you'll have to leave the car, as it might let go on you anytime". These plastic mouldings are a real nuisance, and I would like to find the Jaguar engineer who approved them, and wring his neck ! What is wrong with a nice aluminium casting ?

So back home we had to go on the bus, which was freezing !!

I'm just glad I caught it before it did let go and dumped the coolant, but could do with a lot fewer incidents like this, as it is starting to get expensive.

 

I hope plastic engine parts go completely out of style in the future. Not a good fad at all.

: /

 

Hi Fraser,

I sympathise with your woes but hey it could have been much worse like not noticing and being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
I must admit I'm not a fan of buses, dirty overcrowded full of urchins all sniffing, but it would be so different if they weren't running and boy when they are missing in action boy it's Mc Chuffin cold out!!

BTW, that was a good tip for sniffing out a leak in the dark!

I hope you are warmed up now and the leak is sorted soon?

Regards, Stu

 

Those expansion tanks seem to go about every 5 years or so. Mine smelled like antifreeze for years before I decided to replace it. The good news, it is very easy to replace yourself if it happens again. At most a 15 minute job.

 

Let us know what the verdict is! Hopefully is something "inexpensive". I had the radiator and auxiliary pump replaced and during testing the outlet heater hose let go. So waiting on parts (again).

 

These cooling system issues come in bundles, better replace your thermostat housing while you are at it. it's also plastic and prone to cracks. It's not a terribly expensive part and better to drain/refill the coolant once.

 

Well, I'll know tomorrow. Shop phoned to say they had to get the part in, so clearly it's not a "hardy annual", although mine is not the first they've done. BTW it is a plastic moulding that allows several hoses to connect to each other, not the header tank. It sits below the header tank behind the radiator. One hose goes to the top of the radiator. It doesn't look like a big job to replace, anyway, but the air intake tube and MAF, and, (I think) air cleaner has to come off so one can get to it.

All of this expenditure, plus the wife just got an unpaid Italian property tax demand from her sister, for unpaid tax from 2008 and 2009. They have to pay half each. Oh dear !!

 

My cup ranneth over a helluva lot today !!

Car was fixed today. Bad news was the vent hose nipple on the header tank was also split, so I had to have a new header tank, plus the water rail part. This latter is supplied with two hoses and costs a whole lot more than the header tank; why the hoses have to be supplied with it, heaven knows. The joint that I found leaking in the water rail literally fell to bits when the mechanic removed it, so I could have been in real trouble. Of course I'm in trouble with the missus over having an unreliable and expensive car ! Her New Beetle has hardly had a spanner laid on it.

Having looked at the old plastic moulding of the water rail, I have to say - Jaguar engineers, shame on you !! The flimsiness of the vent pipe connection into the water rail has to be seen to be believed. The wall thickness is about 1/32" !! Does nobody ever check these contracted-out parts, before the design is signed off ?

Final wallet damage was: -

- water rail £84.65
- expansion tank £64.54
- labour £106
- antifreeze 2 litres, £10.60

Then our robber government's VAT (tax) @ 20% £53.16

So you see how lightly you chaps in the USA get away on sales tax.

 

Hi Fraser,
My 2005 XJ8 4.2 just exhibited same symptoms. No kidding on coolant losses. The orange liquid is going "somewhere".
I am ordering a coolant reservoir right now. Will check the connector rail when I get it apart.

£ equals $$$ over here! I know what you're talking about and I don't even have property in Italia.
I see even the Queen has some issues lately.
Bummer.

Take care.

Cold and snowing here.

Gary

 

Hi Gary

Remember my car is a V6 and yours is the V8. I think the header tank is different shape, but still suffers the same cracking. Your vent pipe goes to the thermostat housing, I think, another troublesome plastic moulding !

 

Fraser, funny you should post this as I was about to post a similar tale. As misery loves company you should know mine was in the shop this week for the same issue. The lip that rings around the waist of coolant tank was collecting coolant, the first sign that plastic nipple preparing to break. My indie mechanic says this is a chronic issue with our cars, it's the first thing he checks when he has one in his shop. He too wonders why they went with plastic. Luckily in my case it was an inexpensive part and easy access meant a quick job for the mechanic. But, of course, then I get the "as long as we've got your car here, did you know you're due for a 60,000 service ...."

TO ALL OTHER READERS -- Keep an eye on yours! Luckily these warn you with some drips and drops before they burst and spew coolant. Photo of offending part attached. Pay special attention to the tube attached to the tank, clamped on. This is where I'm told the break is likely to occur.

 

As these plastic components are well known to fail, why hasn't been any aftermarket component produced in, say, aluminum?
That exists e.g. for the sump.

 

[QUOTE=Fraser Mitchell;900822]I'm in trouble with the missus over having an unreliable and expensive car ! Her New Beetle has hardly had a spanner laid on it.

[QUOTE]


Don't worry...the New Beetles make jags look reliable. I guaranty your chance to gloat will come!

 

[QUOTE=cjd;902000][QUOTE=Fraser Mitchell;900822]I'm in trouble with the missus over having an unreliable and expensive car ! Her New Beetle has hardly had a spanner laid on it.

Well, the Beetle is a 2001 and still going strong ! We had a look at the "New, New, Beetle" the other day, but they're still too expensive.

It seems the vent pipe connection to the header tank is a well-known failure point on all X350 versions. What grieved me was the water rail cost £30 more than the header tank, for God's sake !

 

Yes. the plastic parts are offensively expensive for what you get!

My wife has a 2005 new Beetle, and here are a few of the things I've had to work on, just last year:

Rear window actuator (about 10 feet of wire that wraps around many pulleys).
Rear window fell out (glued it back, but will likely need a new hood).
Driver door lock assembly (easy to fix, but pain to get to).
Tail light (only a bulb, but had to use u-tube to figure out how to get to it).
Two cables in the convertible top. (there are 6 cables on each side for who knows what?)
New battery (the second so far).

In that time the Jag needed...an oil change! The VW has eaten 2 batteries, while the Jag is still on the factory battery.

I thought my wife's VW was a lemon, but then I saw a study a few months ago that rated VW dead last for reliability. I'm not sure Jag was included in the study, since it is such a low volume car, but still...I cringe every time my wife drives the VW, as I know I'll have to order more parts!?!