1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main 9000 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Problem may be simpler and less expensive. Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Mon, 3 May 2004 10:46:59
In Reply to: Ari, your deductive approach is indication that your, saabessimo, Mon, 3 May 2004 09:16:16 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
As they say, 'when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras.' I prefer - 'when you hear hoofbeats, get the hell out of the way.'
I'm going to assume that when you said 'coolant on the floor at the passenger side' you meant 'coolant on the ground'. If the coolant truly was on the passenger side floor/carpeting, that would indicate a leak at the heater core.
I'm not convinced you're boiling over (or the car is). Or that the H/G is toast. So far the information I've gotten here is (1) temp gauge runs up near, but not into the red during city driving, and (2) you've found coolant puddles under the expansion tank after the car was parked.
You haven't mentioned seeing bubbles in the expansion tank while the engine was running. That would be a sign of a bad H/G, as combustion gases get into the coolant. Another sign of a bad H/G would be overheating - running just below red when stuck in traffic is pretty normal, even with a lower temp thermostat/thermoswitch combo. If your are running near red when just trundling down the highway, or around town (not stop & go) then I'd worry. The car stuck in traffic is the worst-case point for getting heat out of the engine.
I would be nice to know where the coolant came from when you had the coolant loss events. My guess is either the cap on the coolant expansion tank needs replacement, or you've got a loose coolant hose clamp. When stuck in traffic, you get a lot of heat - when the engine shuts down, temps jump up, because there is no airflow and no coolant flow. System pressure increases. If the venting on the expansion tank cap is flaky, it may be releasing coolant, especially if the level is high. The coolant tank should never be above the HOT line when hot.
The other possibility that comes to mind is a loose hose clamp. Not very loose, but loose. When the system is warm, everything expands and seals well. When things start to cool down, they contract. Some parts of the system will cool faster - the parts away from the heat mass of the engine, like the expansion tank. That hose could contract a little, but the system is still pressurized by the heat of the engine. A leak could form, pushing out fluid. Once everything cools down, the pressure is removed.
I've seen the mysterious intermittent leak, usually just a few ounces, usually as winter sets in. Not as common in spring. But I'd take a nut driver and tighten up any hose clamp you can reach, especially the fat one under the expansion tank. And I'd get a new expansion tank cap.
So far, I haven't heard anything that says H/G.
And yes, I am an engineer. I design diagnostic systems for jet engines.
posted by 192.249....
, Mon, 3 May 2004 06:37:37, Mon, 3 May 2004 10:46:59 <-- Viewing This Message
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
