coolant leak after accident..... helpppp!!

4th January 2011, 16:34

hey guys had some wanker reverse into the front of my car last month and ive just finished the repairs but driving it home today the engine temperature flew up. i looked underneath and it looks like i got coolant literally gushing out from by the big timing belt wheel type thing...... technical i know! its the one when looking from the drivers side through the wheel arch its at the bottom and back of the block just above the sump. just wondering if theres any mechanics on here or anyone whos experienced the same issue. bearing in mind it wasnt a very hard knock........... im stumped so any help is much appreciated! cheers boys n girls!

4th January 2011, 16:39

sounds like the plastic housing where the bottom hose enters the engine has cracked

4th January 2011, 16:41

Your talking about the bottom pulley, first check the rad hose's are connected correctly. However if you say the water is comming from the bottom of the block then its not likely to be the rad.

How hard was the shunt? check the rear water hose's behind the engine underneath the inlet manifold (as mentioned above). Failing this the only other exterior joins are to the matrix at the bulkhead, or the thermostat area next to air filter.

Other possibility is its leaking from the water pump which could be why its comming out at the pulley however it would of had to be a pretty hard crash to do that and likely to of damaged the timing belt causing engine not to run (im guessing this hasnt happened if your driving it around!)

4th January 2011, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_Holbrook

the one when looking from the drivers side through the wheel arch its at the bottom and back of the block just above the sump.

is the water coming from under the plastic cam belt cover? if so, could be the water pump thats taken a knock - if it is water pump it's going to mean taking the timing belt off...

5th January 2011, 09:17

I'm not too sure to be exact as I've only been able to lie on the floor n look from there so far but by the looks of things it is coming off the timing belt pulley (thanks tom 5190

) it mustve been a pretty hard shunt coz they wrecked the bonnet bumper and cooling fan which I've now replaced and know its working fine. Thanks guys for ur help if anyone else has got any words of wisdom their all greatly appreciated lol

5th January 2011, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_Holbrook

I'm not too sure to be exact as I've only been able to lie on the floor n look from there so far but by the looks of things it is coming off the timing belt pulley (thanks tom 5190

) it mustve been a pretty hard shunt coz they wrecked the bonnet bumper and cooling fan which I've now replaced and know its working fine. Thanks guys for ur help if anyone else has got any words of wisdom their all greatly appreciated lol

yer send the bloke who crashed in to you the bill and add extras for the hassle its caused you!
best of luck sorting your car mate

6th January 2011, 05:11

The only place it could be gushing from behind the timing belt cover is the water pump. Unfortunately it sounds like a coincidence that it's happened at a similar time to the shunt. Normally when the outer seal breaks it dribbles out, not gushes. A torrent will be caused by the main bearing seal failing, which will no doubt make the water pump go all baggy and fail, causing the timing to slip, smashing your cylinder head, severing the fuel lines, in turn the whole engine will ignite in to a massive fireball viewable from planet zong.

Get it checked out before you drive too far

6th January 2011, 12:37

Sounds like water intake tank. It's a black pipe that fits onto the back of the block with two coolant hoses coming off it. One larger than the other.

£13 from Citroen.