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The question marks will be resolved by themselves. I see I'm not alone in this... I finally discovered the culprit of the occasional smell from leaking coolant. I even had to refill the completely empty coolant expansion tank several times. But I've never seen the "low coolant level" message. I will have to check the sensor. And of course I will cut the Norma plastic and replace it with another technology. It's a shame that more photos aren't included for your repairs. This way I will have to rely on google translate, my imagination and personal crafting experience. Thanks anyway!
Great to have this forum on your side!
Thanks for posting this and the detailed replies with pictures, I'm sure this is in my future at some point as well.
As a PSA, I'll repost this $100 HF coolant system pressure test tool that allows you track down coolant leaks with a cold engine. It's the first thing I reach for when I smell coolant or notice missing coolant from the header tank.
I consider it one of my most essential, must-have, tools (along with a $100
, a "when you buy quality, you only cry once" Fluke digital multimeter, and a torque wrench) for maintaining a 20+ year old vehicle.
Originally Posted by sanchius
The task today was to track down my coolant leak while the weather was still warm.
I'd been losing a little bit of coolant each drive and getting that familiar faint maple syrup smell lately.
I was hoping it wasn't the hoses under the supercharger as I already have 2 other projects going and would rather not get that deep into the engine.
I put the bonnet in service position (disconnect the two struts and use two bolts through the hinge holes to secure it in the the far open state).
I hooked up my HF coolant pressurization tool, pumped it up to 1.2bar and was quickly greeted by a drips of water coming down the front case of the engine.
This was heartening as it meant I could easily reproduce and track down the leak on a cool engine, as opposed to it being from something that only leaked when hot.
With several vintage cars in the fleet, I find myself using this pressure test tool often, either for this or for pressure bleeding brakes and clutches.
See: https://www.harborfreight.com/radiat...kit-63862.html.
It was impossible to determine the source, so I removed the aux & SC belts, the radiator fans, one of the idler pulleys, and got out the bright lights and mirrors.
I find I work better when I have adequate light, so I like to hang a bright 4-foot LED shop light off the bonnet to shine directly into the engine bay.
I quickly discovered an easy one, a hose on top of the engine with the spring clamp in the wrong place (red arrow)..
Strange, I don't recall ever touching that clamp, but it's hard to believe it's been that way for 2 years.
X100 2001 XKR pressure testing coolant system
I was still getting coolant drips after I fixed the clamp and re-pressurized the system.
I removed the water pump pulley to see better and the second source showed itself to be coming from the underside of the water pump.
It looks like a simple fix. A replacement pump has been ordered and should arrive this week.
