Urgent ! Broken Down on Motorway

Mothman · 17th July 2018, 12:50

Broken down on M1 towing caravan ,but have made it to services. Progessive loss of power and temperature went to red. Have called breakdown assistance but any suggestions where to start looking, Oil level is OK but engine too hot at movement to check coolant.

first-things-first · 17th July 2018, 13:09

Sorry to hear of your issues.

If you have a bright torch (or use your phone "torch"), you should be able to check the level without taking the cap off.

mystabe · 17th July 2018, 13:11

Auxiliary belt still there?

Mothman · 17th July 2018, 13:51

Have got cap off and no sign of any coolant, will wait for the breakdown assistance before trying to top up. Bit mistified as can't see any obvious sign of a leak.

mystabe · 17th July 2018, 14:10

Have you checked the belt? I had almost exactly the same problem a couple of years ago ...

mystabe · 17th July 2018, 17:07

Have you checked the belt? I had almost exactly the same problem a couple of years ago ...

Simondi · 17th July 2018, 17:07

Glad you are ok.

Keep us posted

Outlaw 41 · 17th July 2018, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mothman

Have got cap off and no sign of any coolant, will wait for the breakdown assistance before trying to top up. Bit mistified as can't see any obvious sign of a leak.

Sorry to hear about your situation , how are things now and what was the breakdown assistance diagnosis ?

Mothman · 17th July 2018, 19:59

Thanks for all the replies and glad to say we made it home OK, though a few hours late.

Breakdown mechanic had to add quite a lot of coolant to the engine but could not find any obvious leak. To my eternal shame I had not not checked the coolant for some time (important lesson learnt) and so I can only assume that the car has been leaking a small amount somewhere but over a long period of time. Checked the water level when we got home and didn't appear to have lost much (if any) coolant and so any leek must be small.

Will take the under tray off at the weekend to see if I can see anything obvious, but the breakdown mechanics guess was that it could be water pump bearings.

T-Cut · 17th July 2018, 20:04

Does the cooling fan operate as it should? That is, does it pass the Demist Test?

TC

17th July 2018, 12:50	#1
Mothman Loves to post Rover 75 CDT Club SE Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 252 Thanks: 47 Thanked 31 Times in 27 Posts	Urgent ! Broken Down on Motorway Broken down on M1 towing caravan ,but have made it to services. Progessive loss of power and temperature went to red. Have called breakdown assistance but any suggestions where to start looking, Oil level is OK but engine too hot at movement to check coolant.

17th July 2018, 17:07	#7
Simondi Regional Secretary MGTF, MG ZS EV Exclusive Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kilwinning Posts: 14,046 Thanks: 1,460 Thanked 3,563 Times in 1,857 Posts	Glad you are ok. Keep us posted __________________ Simondi FAQ How do you do that? Club Flyers Looking for a car seen in a film or on TV? Fancy a change in colour or wheels - paint configurator OBD - Trip Meter Ultimate Buyers Guide Post YouTube videos

17th July 2018, 19:59	#9
Mothman Loves to post Rover 75 CDT Club SE Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 252 Thanks: 47 Thanked 31 Times in 27 Posts	Thanks for all the replies and glad to say we made it home OK, though a few hours late. Breakdown mechanic had to add quite a lot of coolant to the engine but could not find any obvious leak. To my eternal shame I had not not checked the coolant for some time (important lesson learnt) and so I can only assume that the car has been leaking a small amount somewhere but over a long period of time. Checked the water level when we got home and didn't appear to have lost much (if any) coolant and so any leek must be small. Will take the under tray off at the weekend to see if I can see anything obvious, but the breakdown mechanics guess was that it could be water pump bearings. Last edited by Mothman; 17th July 2018 at 20:03..

17th July 2018, 13:09	#2
first-things-first Posted a thing or two MG ZT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Hornchurch Posts: 1,255 Thanks: 176 Thanked 352 Times in 272 Posts	Sorry to hear of your issues. If you have a bright torch (or use your phone "torch"), you should be able to check the level without taking the cap off.

17th July 2018, 13:11	#3
mystabe Posted a thing or two Mazda 6 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wigan Posts: 1,384 Thanks: 266 Thanked 398 Times in 287 Posts	Auxiliary belt still there?

17th July 2018, 13:51	#4
Mothman Loves to post Rover 75 CDT Club SE Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 252 Thanks: 47 Thanked 31 Times in 27 Posts	Have got cap off and no sign of any coolant, will wait for the breakdown assistance before trying to top up. Bit mistified as can't see any obvious sign of a leak.

17th July 2018, 14:10	#5
mystabe Posted a thing or two Mazda 6 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wigan Posts: 1,384 Thanks: 266 Thanked 398 Times in 287 Posts	Have you checked the belt? I had almost exactly the same problem a couple of years ago ...

17th July 2018, 20:04	#10
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Does the cooling fan operate as it should? That is, does it pass the Demist Test? TC