coolant loss - advice please

BRG190 Pete · 7th April 2008, 20:10

Hi All

I apologise in advance for coming to this forum with yet another problem. Only last week, I got my car back from the garage with a new clutch system.

After a fast motorway run today, I noticed that coolant was dripping from underneath the car - when looking from under the front, it drips from a few inches in towards the centre from the driver's front wheel.

I took it straight over to Beech Hill Garage (who are now getting v. familiar with me) and their view was that, due to the fairly slow leakage (coolant reservoir is still pretty full), the car needs a new water pump. They quoted me £600 (inc VAT), split as £400 labour and £200 parts. This equates to 7 hours labour.

I know a lot of you guys think I was overcharged for my clutch work, so I thought I ought to shop around. I phoned my warranty company, and they said the job should take 5.2 hours only, and at a lower labour rate. They also said that, if I take the car to one of their approved repairers (Nationwide Autocentre in Sandhurst), I should have to pay nothing as they think the total cost will be < £500 (my warranty limit).

I am tempted to go down this route, as I know I will be left with a bill of £200 if I go to Beech Hill (as the warranty company will only pay £200 labour).

So my questions to you are :

1. Do you think it is the water pump? Could the leak be caused by anything else?

2. Would it be OK to use Nationwide Autocentre (Sandhurst)? Will they be as good as my MG specialist, or is fitting a water pump pretty straightforward so that any competent garage could do it?

3. Are new water pumps readily available?

4. If the coolant drops before I get the car repaired, Beech Hill said I needed to use OAT coolant. I dropped into Halfords and they just sell 'coolant'. Can I just use Halfords coolant? If not, where can I get the OATs variety?

5. Do any of you want to buy my car? I'm only joking, but SWMBO is pushing me to do that, given that I have already spent nearly £1k on repairs. My car does seem to be jinxed!!!

smcaul · 7th April 2008, 20:13

Tell me to shut up if I am stating the obvious - but are you sure it was not condensation from the aircon? I normally have little puddles under the car after a run. Have you actually noticed any coolant loss from the header tank?

BRG190 Pete · 7th April 2008, 20:16

Thanks for the reply. This was definitely coolant (pink and a bit slimy), whereas the aircon system would just drop water. Garage also confirmed it is coolant leaking.

Greeners · 7th April 2008, 20:18

you need to establish that you are loosing coolant.

If you are, talk to Lates and get a price from him.. I'ts worth the journey to get the job done properly ( that's if it does need doing)

stocktake · 7th April 2008, 20:30

If it were me and my warranty company offered to repair my car for nothing .....and garauntee it, then I would be there like a shot and keep my hard earned £200 in my pocket.
I do understand your concerns over the knowlage of working on the KV6 though. Maybe back to the MG garage to look at the labour costs if the book time is less than they are charging, also any chance of talking to the approved garage just to see if they know what the job entails?

Just my two penneth anyway

Tatts · 7th April 2008, 20:35

Check the Thermostat Housing first.

It's a known weakspot.

Remove the accoustic cover on the engine & shine a torch into the 'V' of the engine.

Odds on it's coming from there.

BRG190 Pete · 8th April 2008, 18:14

Hi All

Dropped into Nationwide Autocentre today to have a chat about my problem, but decided not to use this garage, even though it would be the cheaper option.

So I phoned Beech Hill again. Tatts, thank for your point. Beech Hill also said they would need to check the thermostat.

Because of Beech Hill's higher estimate of time and bigger labour rate, I think I'm going to end up paying about £200 over and above what the warranty will cover. But I think that's worth paying to get an MG specialist to look at my car. Needless to say, SWMBO is not happy.

Can someone please confirm that coolant-related items like water pump and thermostat are readily available as new parts, please?

BigJacko · 8th April 2008, 22:42

PEM101050 - stat
PEB102240 - water pump

(part nums taken from here - pls confirm them. You'll also find gasket part numbers, etc there too, which your mechanic may need?)

The XPart database at ThePart says plenty of both the items you need are actively in stock.

BRG190 Pete · 9th April 2008, 21:31

BigJacko

Thanks very much for that - very helpful.

7th April 2008, 20:10	#1
BRG190 Pete Avid contributor None at the moment Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wokingham Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	coolant loss - advice please Hi All I apologise in advance for coming to this forum with yet another problem. Only last week, I got my car back from the garage with a new clutch system. After a fast motorway run today, I noticed that coolant was dripping from underneath the car - when looking from under the front, it drips from a few inches in towards the centre from the driver's front wheel. I took it straight over to Beech Hill Garage (who are now getting v. familiar with me) and their view was that, due to the fairly slow leakage (coolant reservoir is still pretty full), the car needs a new water pump. They quoted me £600 (inc VAT), split as £400 labour and £200 parts. This equates to 7 hours labour. I know a lot of you guys think I was overcharged for my clutch work, so I thought I ought to shop around. I phoned my warranty company, and they said the job should take 5.2 hours only, and at a lower labour rate. They also said that, if I take the car to one of their approved repairers (Nationwide Autocentre in Sandhurst), I should have to pay nothing as they think the total cost will be < £500 (my warranty limit). I am tempted to go down this route, as I know I will be left with a bill of £200 if I go to Beech Hill (as the warranty company will only pay £200 labour). So my questions to you are : 1. Do you think it is the water pump? Could the leak be caused by anything else? 2. Would it be OK to use Nationwide Autocentre (Sandhurst)? Will they be as good as my MG specialist, or is fitting a water pump pretty straightforward so that any competent garage could do it? 3. Are new water pumps readily available? 4. If the coolant drops before I get the car repaired, Beech Hill said I needed to use OAT coolant. I dropped into Halfords and they just sell 'coolant'. Can I just use Halfords coolant? If not, where can I get the OATs variety? 5. Do any of you want to buy my car? I'm only joking, but SWMBO is pushing me to do that, given that I have already spent nearly £1k on repairs. My car does seem to be jinxed!!!

7th April 2008, 20:13	#2
smcaul Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon CDT Club Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southampton Posts: 481 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tell me to shut up if I am stating the obvious - but are you sure it was not condensation from the aircon? I normally have little puddles under the car after a run. Have you actually noticed any coolant loss from the header tank? __________________ Just a few of my favorite pictures Click Here Freedom isn't free. Somebody paid!

7th April 2008, 20:18	#4
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	you need to establish that you are loosing coolant. If you are, talk to Lates and get a price from him.. I'ts worth the journey to get the job done properly ( that's if it does need doing) __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

7th April 2008, 20:30	#5
stocktake Vis Whiz Rover 75 2.5 auto Saloon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: LEEDS Posts: 20,591 Thanks: 2,057 Thanked 3,056 Times in 1,621 Posts	If it were me and my warranty company offered to repair my car for nothing .....and garauntee it, then I would be there like a shot and keep my hard earned £200 in my pocket. I do understand your concerns over the knowlage of working on the KV6 though. Maybe back to the MG garage to look at the labour costs if the book time is less than they are charging, also any chance of talking to the approved garage just to see if they know what the job entails? Just my two penneth anyway __________________ Dave... Lost a few stones and a Gall Bladder and part of a bile duct and all of my dignity in the suppository incident

7th April 2008, 20:35	#6
Tatts This is my second home MG6 TL Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tarn Posts: 5,269 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts	Check the Thermostat Housing first. It's a known weakspot. Remove the accoustic cover on the engine & shine a torch into the 'V' of the engine. Odds on it's coming from there. __________________ http://www.wcgsig.com/115562.gif

7th April 2008, 20:16	#3
BRG190 Pete Avid contributor None at the moment Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wokingham Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the reply. This was definitely coolant (pink and a bit slimy), whereas the aircon system would just drop water. Garage also confirmed it is coolant leaking.

8th April 2008, 18:14	#7
BRG190 Pete Avid contributor None at the moment Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wokingham Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	update Hi All Dropped into Nationwide Autocentre today to have a chat about my problem, but decided not to use this garage, even though it would be the cheaper option. So I phoned Beech Hill again. Tatts, thank for your point. Beech Hill also said they would need to check the thermostat. Because of Beech Hill's higher estimate of time and bigger labour rate, I think I'm going to end up paying about £200 over and above what the warranty will cover. But I think that's worth paying to get an MG specialist to look at my car. Needless to say, SWMBO is not happy. Can someone please confirm that coolant-related items like water pump and thermostat are readily available as new parts, please?

8th April 2008, 22:42	#8
BigJacko Avid contributor Rover 75 Tourer 2.0 V6 Club (2002) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bath Posts: 236 Thanks: 47 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	PEM101050 - stat PEB102240 - water pump (part nums taken from here - pls confirm them. You'll also find gasket part numbers, etc there too, which your mechanic may need?) The XPart database at ThePart says plenty of both the items you need are actively in stock. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

9th April 2008, 21:31	#9
BRG190 Pete Avid contributor None at the moment Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wokingham Posts: 147 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	BigJacko Thanks very much for that - very helpful.